- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 360
http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/EquipmentAndLogistics/ArmyToGetHightechNewBattlefieldCommunicationsNetwork.htm
Army to get high-tech new battlefield communications network
30 Mar 06
The Army is to get a new air-portable battlefield communications network called FALCON, under a contract worth in excess of £200m, Minister for Defence Procurement, Lord Drayson, announced today, Thursday 30 March 06.
BAE Systems Integrated System Technologies (Insyte), has been awarded the contract to design and manufacture FALCON which will equip senior commanders with one of the world’s most advanced and powerful digital communications networks for controlling combat operations at corps, divisional and brigade level. It will have up to 50 times the data throughput capacity of the systems it replaces and will massively improve the Army’s communications network and reduce the number of Royal Signals vehicles and personnel needed to support a major headquarters. It is due to enter service in 2010.
Lord Drayson said:
"I am very pleased to announce that we have awarded the FALCON contract to BAE Systems Insyte for this hugely important system. Its delivery will provide the Armed Forces with the modern, secure communications infrastructure required for effective operations.
"FALCON will be a vital part of the network-enabled operations that will help our front line commanders cut through the fog of war and ensure that they have the ability to communicate quickly and effectively across the battlefield.
"Studies have shown that better and faster use of combat information gives our Armed Forces a major advantage over any likely opponents and FALCON, integrated with the Bowman tactical communications system and the Cormorant command system, will give them that crucial advantage. It fully supports our future procurement policy as laid out in the Defence Industrial Strategy."
"FALCON will be a vital part of the network-enabled operations that will help our front line commanders cut through the fog of war."
Lord Drayson
FALCON will provide the battlefield communications infrastructure to support the Army’s command systems. The Bowman tactical system will feed information into FALCON, which will be able to link back to UK headquarters using the Skynet 5 satellite communications system. FALCON will replace in-service systems such as Ptarmigan, Euromux, and the RAF Transportable Telecommunications System (RTTS).
The FALCON network will permit transmission of large amounts of data between Army Headquarters and battlefield commanders. The system will be deployed to and operated by Royal Signals Units and will allow significant operator reductions over the existing Ptarmigan system. The FALCON project is managed by the Theatre and Formation Communication Systems project team, based at the Defence Procurement Agency in Bristol.
In line with the Defence Industrial Strategy, the programme will sustain a cadre of engineers that understand our systems and requirements in order to support our equipment in the future. It also maintains our capability to produce equipment over which a measure of sovereign control is required (e.g. cryptographic material). FALCON is key to the “Resilient Information Infrastructure” of Network Enabled Capability (NEC) by providing the modern, secure communications infrastructure required by deployed formations and operating bases.
Army to get high-tech new battlefield communications network
30 Mar 06
The Army is to get a new air-portable battlefield communications network called FALCON, under a contract worth in excess of £200m, Minister for Defence Procurement, Lord Drayson, announced today, Thursday 30 March 06.
BAE Systems Integrated System Technologies (Insyte), has been awarded the contract to design and manufacture FALCON which will equip senior commanders with one of the world’s most advanced and powerful digital communications networks for controlling combat operations at corps, divisional and brigade level. It will have up to 50 times the data throughput capacity of the systems it replaces and will massively improve the Army’s communications network and reduce the number of Royal Signals vehicles and personnel needed to support a major headquarters. It is due to enter service in 2010.
Lord Drayson said:
"I am very pleased to announce that we have awarded the FALCON contract to BAE Systems Insyte for this hugely important system. Its delivery will provide the Armed Forces with the modern, secure communications infrastructure required for effective operations.
"FALCON will be a vital part of the network-enabled operations that will help our front line commanders cut through the fog of war and ensure that they have the ability to communicate quickly and effectively across the battlefield.
"Studies have shown that better and faster use of combat information gives our Armed Forces a major advantage over any likely opponents and FALCON, integrated with the Bowman tactical communications system and the Cormorant command system, will give them that crucial advantage. It fully supports our future procurement policy as laid out in the Defence Industrial Strategy."
"FALCON will be a vital part of the network-enabled operations that will help our front line commanders cut through the fog of war."
Lord Drayson
FALCON will provide the battlefield communications infrastructure to support the Army’s command systems. The Bowman tactical system will feed information into FALCON, which will be able to link back to UK headquarters using the Skynet 5 satellite communications system. FALCON will replace in-service systems such as Ptarmigan, Euromux, and the RAF Transportable Telecommunications System (RTTS).
The FALCON network will permit transmission of large amounts of data between Army Headquarters and battlefield commanders. The system will be deployed to and operated by Royal Signals Units and will allow significant operator reductions over the existing Ptarmigan system. The FALCON project is managed by the Theatre and Formation Communication Systems project team, based at the Defence Procurement Agency in Bristol.
In line with the Defence Industrial Strategy, the programme will sustain a cadre of engineers that understand our systems and requirements in order to support our equipment in the future. It also maintains our capability to produce equipment over which a measure of sovereign control is required (e.g. cryptographic material). FALCON is key to the “Resilient Information Infrastructure” of Network Enabled Capability (NEC) by providing the modern, secure communications infrastructure required by deployed formations and operating bases.
