MoD Responds to PAC Report on Bowman

, Defence Minister Paul Drayson today highlighted the significant improvements delivered to the Armed Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan by the Bowman communications system, and pointed to radical changes within the MoD that would improve project management in the future. 
 
Lord Drayson said: 
 
“The Bowman system is world class and our forces in Iraq and Afghanistan are benefiting from it today. It takes communications in the field to a new level – improving situational awareness and decision making. It is proving its worth on operations. 
 
“The PAC highlights a number of problems with the Bowman CIP programme over many years. The MoD has learnt the lessons from these issues and is implementing a reform programme across defence acquisition to improve significantly our performance. This includes a number of recommendations made by the PAC today. 
 
“The MoD takes Combat Identification very seriously. The improved situational awareness Bowman already offers is benefiting our troops, but it is only one of a number of interrelated systems such as Blue Force Tracking for vehicles and helicopters, and secure radios for ground forces which are able to communicate with supporting coalition aircraft – these together provide our Combat I.D. capability. 
 
“Equipping our Forces deployed on operations is my number one priority. I fully recognise the importance of giving the Armed Forces the equipment they need to do the job we ask of them.”