It is fitted to over 15,000 military vehicles, from Land Rover Wolf to the Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank. The procurement cost of the supply and (initial) support phase for Bowman is approximately £1.9 billion and the current acquisition cost of the whole project is £2.4 billion.īowman’s initial operating capability was delivered into service in March 2004, it was fully rolled out across the Armed Forces by the end of 2008 and is expected to continue in service until approximately 2026.īowman provides a tactical voice and data communications system for joint operations across the British Armed Forces in support of land and amphibious operations.

AgustaWestland was responsible for training installations and classrooms for the conversion training. Elements of design and manufacturing were sub-contracted to Cogent Defence Systems (UK) (now Cassidian, part of the EADS group), SELEX Communications (Military Specialist Communications), ITT Corporation, Harris Corporation, L-3 Communications, Blazepoint, DRS Tactical Systems, BAE Systems, GDC4S and Thales Group. The subsequent rebidding process for the contract was won by CDC Systems UK Ltd, now General Dynamics United Kingdom Ltd as prime contractor. This process culminated in the failure in 2000 of the preferred bidder, Archer, to deliver the requirement within budget and on time, and the resultant cessation of the contract by the UK MoD. The procurement had a long and chequered history, with a number of consortia involved in the development and bidding process. The GSR was subsequently modified to accommodate post Cold War scenarios. The concept of Bowman dates from a 1989 UK MoD General Staff Requirement (GSR) for a system to replace the ageing Clansman radio system.

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