C4I ENABLING TACTICAL INTERCOM SOLUTIONS
British Bowman System Finally Operational After a Chequered History Don McBarnet, Staff Writer
Embedded software systems form a ubiquitous, networked, computing substrate that underlies much of modern technological society
I
T IS not just the United States that has problems updating communication systems for its military vehicles on time and on budget. The damning report of the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee22 on delivering digital tactical communications through the Bowman CIP Programme gives an unflattering insight into Ministry of Defence bungling and bureaucratic incompetence: the chapter headings provide a scurrilous summary of their conclusions: programme governance arrangements were not fit for purpose, initial decisions were not well informed to reduce later risk including the crime of excessive optimism, through life costs were not rigorously assessed and, finally, after all the costs incurred, operational benefits are limited by reductions in the programme.23 A sorry tale summarized by Sarah McCarthy-Fry giving evidence as “The system is incomplete and inflexible, conversion of vehicles and units has been slow, troops do not find the equipment flexible and intuitive to use and substantial technical challenges still remain to be solved.”
Bowman on Operation Leaving aside the criticisms of the process of procurement and the cost and weight of the final radios for dismounted infantry, Bowman has delivered a remarkable upgrade in communication capability to the British Armed Forces. 12 Mechanised Brigade was the first brigade to be converted to Bowman and successfully completed a six month operational tour in Iraq – OP TELIC 6 – in November 2005. 7 Armoured Brigade followed on OP TELIC 7, taking its Bowman-equipped Warriors and Challenger 2 tanks. Bowman has received favourable reports from the user on operations. It provides secure data at speed: high levels of security are provided, based on the UK Pritchel crypto system together with its appliqué crypto and NATO Standard Operating Modes to allow interoperability with NATO allies. The Bowman Key Variable Management System (BKVMS) provides generation and distribution of
24 | WWW.DEFENCEINDUSTRYREPORTS.COM
The goal of the HACMS program is to create tools and techniques that can produce formally verified software for defense vehicles
cryptographic key material. “Operational tempo is improved by secure, guaranteed communications, and we had that at Brigade level down to section level”, said Brigadier John Lorimer, the Commander 12 Brigade. Signalers in the Brigade Signals squadron were pleased with the reliability of Bowman, which worked well in the heat. Lt Col Ben Edwards, CO The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, speaking in BATUS during pre-deployment training, said that the clarity and distance of communication with Bowman had been “a revelation – much much better than anything we’ve had before”.
The Threat of Cyber Warfare, Jamming and Control of Military Vehicles by Opposing Parties One of the key criteria in updating software for communication systems of any sort in 2012 is the threat of cyber warfare or electronic warfare of any or an unknown sort. This has become a high priority under the Obama administration in the face of growing attacks from known and unknown agents or countries. In response to this requirement DARPA24 has come up with a new and strong program of software to combat this emerging need. Their goal is innovative research proposals in the area of the clean-slate development of software for high-assurance cyber-physical systems. Why? Embedded software systems form a ubiquitous, networked, computing
