The Army is to get a new air-portable battlefield communications network called FALCON under a contract worth in excess of 200m pounds, Minister for Defence Procurement, Lord Drayson, has nnounced.
BAE Systems Integrated System Technologies (Insyte), has been awarded the contract to design and manufacture FALCON which will equip senior commanders with one of the world's most advanced and powerful digital communications networks for controlling combat operations at corps, divisional and brigade level.
It will have up to 50 times the data throughput capacity of the systems it replaces and will massively improve the Army's communications network and reduce the number of Royal Signals vehicles and personnel needed to support a major headquarters. It is due to enter service in 2010.
Lord Drayson said: "I am very pleased to announce that we have awarded the FALCON contract to BAE Systems Insyte for this hugely important system. Its delivery will provide the Armed Forces with the modern, secure communications infrastructure required for effective operations".
"FALCON will be a vital part of the network-enabled operations that will help our front line commanders cut through the fog of war and ensure that they have the ability to communicate quickly and effectively across the battlefield.
"Studies have shown that better and faster use of combat information gives our Armed Forces a major advantage over any likely opponents and FALCON, integrated with the Bowman tactical communications system and the Cormorant command system, will give them that crucial advantage. It fully supports our future procurement policy as laid out in the Defence Industrial Strategy"
