Troops getting better communications

LONDON, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- British troops in Afghanistan will be provided enhanced communications capabilities by General Dynamics UK.

The company said three contracts received from the British Ministry of Defense -- worth $53 million -- will improve the British army's Bowman tactical communications system to enable better information sharing between isolated outposts and larger bases on improvised explosive device threats.

Bowman is a product of General Dynamics UK.

A key challenge to commanders in Afghanistan is how to provide similar levels of communications capability available in Forward Operating Bases to troops in locations where it is inappropriate to use either command vehicles or larger fixed installations.

General Dynamics will provide a system called M-DOR -- a Modular Dismounted Operations Room C4I capability. This system will enable British personnel on the ground to establish a patrol base with similar levels of VHF, HF and High Capacity Data Radios to a FOB.

M-DOR provides a deployable and flexible C4I capability in support of deployed, fixed bases. It will provide a lightweight, transportable, modular system that allows rapid and simple deployment of a range of C4I capabilities, including the ability to communicate the location of IEDs using secure data.

The inclusion of an enhanced HCDR radio in the contract will result in the ability to greatly increase levels of user data throughput such as Bowman, ISTAR and C-IED information.

"These latest contracts … demonstrate that our customer has every confidence that Bowman is not only doing the job we promised it would, but it is the platform from which many other operational advantages can and are springing", said Andrew Browne, vice president of C4I at General Dynamics UK.

"The fact that we can now deliver a modular deployed operations room to a patrol base that not only delivers FOB communications levels to front-line troops but also facilitates improved tactical and shared situational awareness to commanders clearly shows that General Dynamics UK is the best organization to exploit Bowman in the interests of our men and women in Afghanistan."