AMS and Westland Helicopters are seeking to build on their Bowman digital communications programme work as part of a Lockheed Martin-led bid for the UK's Ground Based Air Defence System (GBADS) programme.
Lockheed Martin's Team Athena and an EADS-led team won Ministry of Defence two-year assessment phase contracts in June. These are due to include system trade studies and demonstrations ahead of a final go-ahead and selection of a winner in 2005.
GBADS is intended to provide an overall battle management, command, communications, computers, control and intelligence (BMC4I) system for the MBDA Rapier and Thales Missile Systems Hyper Velocity Missiles (HVM). Bowman is being developed by General Dynamics UK as the British Army's digital communications network.
Beverley Osborne, Westland GBAD programme manager, says the company is responsible for Bowman training and integrated logistics and the "synergy with Bowman allows us to provide a low risk solution and to use the lessons captured on that programme".
During the assessment phase, Westland will complete a GBADS logistics study including the Rapier and HVM missiles.
AMS integrated systems division sales director Mike Clayforth-Carr says: "We're bringing our Bowman expertise [to the team], including the Bowman emulator."
BMC4I and radar specialist AMS will also participate in a sensors study during the assessment phase, he says.
The BMC4I system will be deployable and is intended to improve the capabilities of the two missile systems against emerging threats as well as improve the situation awareness of the operators. It will also link with Royal Air Force and Royal Navy air defence networks.
Source: Flight International