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Revision as of 02:26, 13 April 2006 by 155.225.160.150 (talk)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)BOWMAN is the name of the new tactical communications system being deployed by the British Army. The BOWMAN C4I system consists of a range of HF radio, VHF radio and UHF radio sets to provide voice and data services to dismounted soldiers, individual vehicles and HQs.
The concept of Bowman dates from a 1989 General Staff Requirement (GSR) for a system to replace the ageing Clansman radio system. The GSR was subsequently modified to accommodate post Cold War scenarios. The procurement programme has had a long and chequered history, with a number of consortia involved in the development and bidding process. This process culminated in the failure in 2000 of the preferred bidder, Archer, to deliver the requirement within budget and time, and the resultant cessation of the contract by the UK MoD. The subsequent rebidding process for the contract was won by CDC Systems UK Ltd, now General Dynamics UK Ltd.
Bowman will provide a tactical, secure voice and data communications system for joint operations across the British Army, Royal Marines and Royal Air Force. The complete contract involves more than 48,000 radios and more than 30,000 computers being installed in more than 30,000 platforms, together with the necessary training. The Bowman system is a fundamental part of the UK Digitisation process, as it will provide the carriers for the passage of data between the various software applications involved.
The system is described on the UK MoD site at www.mod.uk
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