Mr. Gareth R. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the Bowman Personal Role Radio. [149426]
§ Dr. MoonieI am pleased to announce that the contract for the Bowman Personal Role Radio was signed on 2 February. British-based Marconi has been selected to supply the short-range tactical radio, which will be used within small military teams. The project has made excellent progress since we took the decision to introduce it ahead of the main Bowman programme and we expect to see the first deliveries before the end of the year. The contract award is good news for British industry—creating or sustaining around 80 jobs at Marconi and its UK sub-contractors—and of course for the front line which will see this capability introduced earlier than had been previously planned.
The competition for the main Bowman system is also progressing well. Bids for the supply and support contract are due on 7 February from TRW, Thales and Computing Devices Canada.