The Bowman logistics information system is a support management tool with a central repository of information
					Bowman's UK revolution
	Alex Taylor reports on the UK’s battlefield digitisation programme
					Warfare in the 21st century will be dominated by the need to win the information battle. To succeed on future battlefields will require digital communications to provide the backbone for military command and control systems. With the aim of replacing its 1960s vintage Clansman radio, the British armed forces have embarked upon a comprehensive £2.5bn programme to introduce the Bowman digital communications systems. The programme is required to provide secure and resilient communications for both voice and data transmissions. Archer Communications Systems Limited (ACSL), a consortium of British Aerospace, ITT Industries and Racal Defense Electronics, has been given the task of acting as prime contractor and system integrator. Led by BAe Systems, ACSL will play a key role in the planning, management and support of the introduction of Bowman systems, that is described by the UK Ministry of Defence as its most important land-based military project. Bowman has to provide an advanced tactical communications systems utilising VHF, HF and UHF radio communications, advanced fibre optic harness systems and integrating directly with existing systems such as Ptarmigan trunk networks and satellite communications links. Bowman is intended to be the bearer systems for a family of command and control networks, based on advanced software applications. Bowman is designed to allow large quantities of high quality and timely information to be transmitted across several strata of command. It has to provide secure voice and data communications, resilient communications through integrated electronic protective measures (EPM), situational awareness through automated position reporting and improved data communications. Bowman also will offer flexibility to allow deployment in a wide range of scenarios, long-range and inter-theatre operation through integration with wide-area systems and improved inter-service communications through common equipment, operating systems and protocols. The completed system is designed to encompass all the radios, vehicle and headquarters harness systems, user data terminals, global positional system (GPS) satellite-based appliques for navigation and for automatic position reporting, cryptographic and communications management systems and integrated logistic information systems. Radio sub-systems VHF radio: This will be the heart of the Bowman system and will be used to distribute the majority of secure voice and data traffic around the battlefield. All VHF radios have to support re-broadcast operations and may be operated remotely via a user data terminal (UDT). The radio will be based on advanced digital processing techniques to allow for upgrades. A GPS applique is to be integrated with the radio to allow the user immediate position and navigational data. When linked to a UDT the position of the radio will be passed automatically to all command levels for situational awareness. VHF portable transceiver: This is a portable radio that is to have most of the functionality found in the VHF mounted and manpacked radios, but a smaller lighter package to bring the advantages of the Bowman system down to section level. HF mounted and manpack radio: Because of its greater range capabilities the HF radio will provide communications for more dispersed military deployments, such as amphibious operations, rear link or long-range communication in terrain that is adverse to VHF communications. Airborne VHF radios: These will be fitted to battlefield attack and support helicopters, as well as C-130 Hercules transport aircraft. They will allow integration of air and ground operations, and the increased situational awareness characteristics of the system will reduce the risk of fratricide. High capacity data radio (HCDR): This provides a high- capacity, low-latency, data-only transmission medium. Operating in the VHF band, the HCDR will relieve VHF and HF radios of a great deal of point-to-point data traffic such as the traffic generated by battlefield information system application. Data will be routed automatically from VHF or HF nets to the HCDR by the Bowman tactical internet service that is embedded within the HF, VHF and HCDR radios. Communications between the HCDR and the HF or VHF radios will be accomplished via the local area subsystem or Bowman vehicle harness. Personal role radio (PRR): This is intended for short range use by individual soldiers. The PRR will sustain insecure communications for small groups of soldiers, enabling local, low-level command and control while maintaining a low probability of intercept. Harness system Headquarters local area subsystem (LAS): The LAS has to provide efficient high bandwidth local area communications within headquarters, without recourse to using precious radio bandwidth. LAS will provide access to Bowman radio nets, wide area communication systems, such as satellite communications, via gateways and intra-headquarters communications. This is to allow seamless tactical and strategic communications. In addition it will provide distribution of data from Bowman radios to LAS users, or will route this information from Bowman to other systems, such as Ptarmigan and Skynet. LAS is to consist of high-speed digital harness both internal to the brigade headquarters vehicles and external within a static brigade headquarters environment, using fibre optic cabling. LAS will be configured, monitored and controlled by an LAS management information system. Bowman vehicle harness: This must offer a simple solution for local distribution of voice and data service within a single platform. It is intended to be a low-cost alternative to the LAS for vehicles not required to establish high-level data communications with non-Bowman communications systems. The harness is to provide ethernet connectivity and give access to the tactical internet service through a single radio and LAS network. Bowman is intended to provide a flexible and enhanced system that will greatly increase battle tempo by increasing the speed at which information can be gathered and disseminated Communications security Communications management information system (CMIS): The CMIS has to be able to allow the planning, initialisation, management and control of Bowman radio deployments in support of operational objectives. It has to support the transfer of command between headquarters to allow networks to be managed at all times. Key variable management system (KVMS): This will provide the interface between Bowman and the UK Ministry of Defence’s general key management system. The KVMS has to provide the means to manage, distribute and audit large volumes of key material at short notice, without slowing operational tempo. BOWMAN logistic information system (BLIS): This is the integrated logistic management tool for Bowman, based on a central database that will be populated as Bowman is fielded. It will track Bowman equipment during conversion and its whole life cycle. The system has to help maximise operational readiness, reduce the number of spare parts required to maintain operational capability and will minimise the system’s operating cost. BLIS is intended to track Bowman equipment configurations and associated spares, as well as providing a spares re-provisioning facility that will interface with an ordering system and play a critical role in asset management. Common operating environment Tactical internet: The Bowman tactical internet will provide end-to-end information transport for data across different bearer systems using an industry-standard internet protocol (IP). Also, a site of specially developed military combat radio IPs will be used to provide features such as multi- address messaging across networks. The tactical internet will allow battlefield software applications such as BATES and ADCIS to pass data seamlessly across Bowman and other secure networks such as Ptarmigan. User data service (UDS): The UDS has to allow data messages to be sent over the Bowman system. It will allow messages to be sent accurately and clearly using less transmission time than equivalent voice messages and will be ideally suited for the passage of standard reports and returns or automatic position reports. It is intended to be inter-operable with NATO systems. User data terminal (UDT): To provide users with data access to the Bowman system and remote control of Bowman radios. The UDTs are to be fully functional PC-based equipment running on a secure operating system. There are to be two types of terminal; a small, rugged palm-top style for dismounted battlefield use and a rugged laptop style for use in vehicles and barracks. UDTs will provide the basis for Bowman services such as APLNR, messaging, location functions and software updating of Bowman radios. Automatic position location, navigation and reporting (APLNR): This is a UDS service that, when used with a GPS-equipped radio, can display or transmit positional and navigational information on a predetermined time or distance basis. It will improve a commander’s situational awareness. Additionally, positional information can be appended to messages automatically and can support battle-management software applications, such as the battle group management system. Fielding and training ACSL will be responsible for the installation of Bowman in all UK armed forces operational platforms worldwide. This will include 13,000 wheeled land vehicles, 6,000 tracked vehicles, 340 aircraft and 140 ships and boats. The company will provide the complete fielding solution including the design, development and implementation of Bowman in all vehicles, aircraft and ships. Because UK military units remain highly committed to operations around the world, ACSL will have to work in partnership with the UK Ministry of Defence to deliver the least disruptive and most cost-effective fielding solution. During fielding ACSL is committed to providing training for all users of the Bowman system from occasional users to system managers. This will cover all aspects of Bowman from simple operating instructions for users of the PRR, through in-depth configuration training for systems managers and advanced repair training for maintainers. Bowman will provide a training system suitable for use in all steady-state training establishments. Bowman also is expected to provide UK forces with a unique, complete digital communications system. It is intended to provide a flexible and enhanced system that will greatly increase battle tempo by increasing the speed at which information can be gathered and disseminated. The project is highly ambitious and ACSL is under great pressure to deliver it on schedule to the UK Ministry of Defence from 2002 onwards. Progress during the next few years will be crucial if the Bowman project is to be brought to a successful conclusion. ©
		"Bowman will be the bearer systems for command and control networks based on advanced software"