Bowman Combat Net Radio

HC Deb 04 December 1991 vol 200 c180W

Mr. Menzies Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the Bowman combat net radio programme.

Mr. Alan Clark

Project Bowman will provide the new combat radio system for the armed services to replace the current CLANSMAN family of radios. Bowman will link with computerised command and control systems and the Ptarmigan trunk communication network to provide a flexible battlefield communications system stretching from individual soldier to senior commander.

An invitation to tender for the competitive project Definition phase was issued on 31 October. Bowman is a major opportunity for the defence electronics industry and could be worth in excess of £1 billion.