asked Her Majesty's Government:
When they expect the provisos that limit the operational capability of the Bowman Combat Infrastructure Platform to be lifted. [HL3037]
As reported by the NAO in July 2006, Bowman and CIP were declared in service with 59 provisos between them. To date, 23 of these provisos have been cleared and the department currently expects to resolve the remaining provisos around the end of 2007.
asked Her Majesty's Government:
How provisos on the operational capability of the Bowman Combat Infrastructure Platform Programme are managed within the Ministry of Defence's contract with General Dynamics UK. [HL3078]
Provisos are not managed by the Bowman Combat Infrastructure Platform contract. They are used by the department as a way of making useful capabilities available to the Armed Forces as soon as possible. It is an example of our pragmatic approach to incremental acquisition.
asked Her Majesty's Government:
What progress the Ministry of Defence has made in developing a forward plan to address capability shortfalls within, or those capability shortfalls removed from, the Bowman Combat Infrastructure Platform Programme and, in particular, in the ability to communicate directly with allies; and when they expect this plan to be finalised. [HL3079]
This issue was included in the conclusions and recommendations of the Committee of Public Accounts report Delivering digital tactical communications through the Bowman CIP Programme published on 8 March 2007. The Government will respond to the committee in a Treasury minute shortly.
asked Her Majesty's Government:
What work is ongoing to simplify the use of the Bowman Combat Infrastructure Platform Programme for service personnel. [HL3083]
The Bowman Combat Infrastructure Platform is an incremental programme and improvement of ease of use is one of the key elements of the next increment due to be fielded in 2008.
asked Her Majesty's Government:
What progress the Ministry of Defence has made in developing a built-in through-life support system for the Bowman Combat Infrastructure Platform Programme. [HL3115]
The department has an incremental improvement strategy towards Bowman Combat Infrastructure and Platform support that is compliant with current and emerging support policy while meeting the needs of the front line. The intention is to develop a long-term through-life support solution.
asked Her Majesty's Government:
What lessons the Ministry of Defence has learnt from the use of the Bowman Combat Infrastructure Platform Programme in Iraq and Afghanistan that will inform its final acceptance of the system from the contractor. [HL3117]
Lessons from Iraq and Afghanistan will inform the department's future capability development, rather than acceptance of the system. Bowman Combat Infrastructure Platform has been accepted into service, albeit with provisos, which are due to be cleared under the next increment that is currently undergoing trials and testing.
asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Ministry of Defence is aware of any incompatibility with VHF transmissions using Bowman and electronic counter measures equipment. [HL3118]
I am withholding details of electronic counter measures (ECM) as its disclosure would prejudice, or would be likely to prejudice, the capability effectiveness of security of our Armed Forces. The interoperability of all systems that operate within the electro-magnetic spectrum is an issue under constant review. The ECM capability we field is world-leading.
asked Her Majesty's Government:
What impact the Bowman Combat Infrastructure Platform Programme has had on inter-crew communications. [HL3120]
Initial difficulties with inter-crew communications have been overcome and performance is expected to improve with the next increment of Bowman Combat Infrastructure Platform capability, due to be fielded next year.