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.