GDUK wins UK battlefield network contract
General Dynamics UK will design and develop the UK's next-generation tactical communication and information system as the initial phase of the MORPHEUS programme. The company announced a £330 million contract for the work from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) on 6 April.
The system will evolve the Bowman tactical communication (BCIP 5.6) capability into an open, modular system using a new architectural approach the company calls 'Evolve to Open' (EvO).
The resulting system will be used to plan, deploy, manage and monitor communications and information for the British Army, connecting deployed tactical forces to their commanders.
In addition to allowing users to integrate new radios, applications and other system components faster and with greater ease to tackle emerging threats and enhance interoperability with allies, it will give improved access to powerful operational IT and simplify the user experience.
Brigadier Richard Spencer, head of the MoD's battlefield and tactical communications and information system delivery team said: 'The Transition Partner contract is just the first of many procurement projects to deliver the MORPHEUS EvO baseline over the next few years. This first contract opens the door for numerous industry opportunities to contribute to the next generation of battlefield communications.'
The EvO contract is the first to be awarded for the MORPHEUS programme, which will give UK armed forces across all three services modernised command and control networks using the latest technology.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Digital Battlespace
-
Israel sets up new department to boost development of AI and autonomy
Israel will continue to develop autonomy for its weapons and platforms as it brings together defence personnel, academia and industry.
-
Clavister contracted to supply cyber protection for CV90s
Clavister CyberArmour, an integrated defence cybersecurity system, will be used on BAE Systems Hägglunds’ CV90 platform in deployments with a Scandinavian country, as well as in an eastern European nation.
-
Lockheed Martin completes tactical satellite demonstration and prepares for launch
The tactical satellite (TacSat) is an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) system and will participate in exercises in 2025.
-
AUSA 2024: General Micro Systems adds four new products to the X9 Spider family
The airborne three-domain, the two ground-based and the ¼ ATR OpenVPX-based cross-domain systems were engineered to provide real-time security across multi-domain operations.
-
BAE Systems gets go-ahead for second phase of mission communications programme
DARPA’s Mission-Integrated Network Control (MINC) programme was set up to develop an autonomous tactical network and enable critical data flow in contested environments.
-
Just Released: Space Technology Report
Why space is an essential part of modern military capabilities