MoD launches Project Morpheus

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has formally launched Project Morpheus to consider and develop a replacement for its current Bowman tactical communications system, it was announced on 19 June.

The MOD is using the project to replace Bowman with a new approach to land and littoral communications that meets the needs of the Royal Air Force, Royal Marines and British Army.

The MoD is looking for security, IT, networks, wireless and telecommunications players and trainers to participate in the project. It aims to develop options to utilise emerging and current technology to form a system that can be managed and evolved cost-effectively.

The project will be open to academics and particularly small and medium businesses, with the options to be addressed by the Morpheus Systems House. PA Consulting leads the house along with QinetiQ, Roke Manor Research and CGI.

The resulting options will be addressed with long-term acquisition and operating models and selected based on communication speed, account security, range, cost and ease of use. They will also have to adapt to changing operational demands and technical developments. The selected option or options will form the basis for the new system competition.

Rick Mather, project lead for Morphues, QinetiQ, said: 'The key here is to examine all the potential options out there to identify the most operationally effective and cost effective solutions. We know there are lots of really exciting technology and security SMEs, as well as academics, doing exactly the kind of research and innovation this project needs.

'We also know a lot of them think that these kinds of contracts always go to the same old defence companies. That’s not the case here, we’re really open to innovative, and even unusual solutions to ensure that the final options are the best possible.'

The project will be the main procurement vehicle for the UK's tactical communications capability for the next three decades.