The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has awarded BAE Systems a substantial contract worth £89 million, aimed at amplifying front-line communication capabilities.
This initiative will integrate various military assets ranging from small reconnaissance drones and combat vehicles to fighter jets, aircraft carriers, and the overarching military commands.
Highlighting the complex nature of modern warfare, the press release notes, “Modern battles are fought across land, sea, air, space, cyber and electronic warfare. Rapidly evolving technologies mean each domain is highly contested so it is vital that militaries maintain control of their communications in these challenging environments.”
BAE Systems, over the next five years, will lead a coalition of dependable partners, such as Kellogg, Brown and Root (KBR), PA Consulting, and L3 Harris.
Together, they will be responsible for the conception and production of a tactical Wide Area Network (WAN) titled ‘Trinity’. This network aims to offer a cutting-edge, secure battlefield internet service for UK forces, ensuring sustained battlefield cognizance and effective intelligence sharing, even under intense enemy attacks.
David Armstrong, Group Managing Director at BAE Systems’ Digital Intelligence sector, stated: “In an increasingly complex and fast-paced threat landscape, Trinity will empower the UK Armed Forces with a better view of what is happening, enabling them to make swift, informed decisions when and where it matters most. By providing this advantage to front-line decision makers, Trinity reinforces our commitment to equipping the British military with the right tools to stay ahead in an ever-evolving battlespace.”
To counteract reliance on vulnerable satellites or fixed infrastructures that are common targets for foes, BAE Systems will employ its defence communications proficiency to create and implement global-class network abilities.
James Heappey MP, Minister for the Armed Forces, commented on the importance of this initiative: “In this continually evolving, multi-domain environment it is vital that our personnel have access to world-leading communications capabilities while on operations. We remain committed to working closely with the best of British industry as they support our endeavour to better connect with our allies and their assets in theatre.”
Being a network blokey, it just seems odd having a WAN in a tactical context.
For some reason, I considered tactical to be local.
More port for the thinking processes (or maybe less).
This contract is for initial R&D. Previously Trinity was billed as Land Environment, (ie Army and RAF, like its predecessor Falcon), but it sounds like it has been extended to all domains. Is that right?
Given the well-publicised problems with Morpheus (the LAN equivalent, replacing Bowman) and the very tight timescales, operational by end of 2025, I wonder if extending the scope from the off is a good thing.
It seems IOC has already been shifted from Q2 2025.
The article above does say production too, although in terms of developing a WAN, not sure exactly what they might be delivering…
As far as scope goes, I’d imagine that “tactical” means fairly different things to the 3 branches- certainly in terms of area to be covered by the network. I realise distance isn’t everything, but in Comms it’s a key factor in how far you can transmit a robust and unjammable signal…
I know it’ll eventually include production, but
MOD Press release
Anybody taking bets on the project cost over runs for a system that fails to work as advertised?
Given the clowns that are being used as 2nd tier – they specialise in cost / time overruns.
I can’t think of a worse group to try to get to deliver this TBH.
BAE look like angels compared to the others.
Agreed on KBR, wouldn’t trust them as far as I could throw their US corporate headquarters. L3Harris I didn’t realise shared that rep. Bit of a shame
L3Harris have a bad rep?
Doubt it will be as delayed as Morpheus , which they say it had a nice power point vision !
just need more string and plastic cups? sorted
Loadsamoney!
So the army communication system will be called Morpheus and the navy’s Trinity and I guess combined they will form The Matrix
Someone the MOD has a good time naming all this stuff 😀
Not to forget about skynet
Can they not just use EE like the rest of us😂😂😂😂😂
The Bowman joke was “better off with map and Nokia “. Bowman plugs were glued cables with snap rings made of zinc aluminium alloy instead of the screw ring easy to repair machined clansman type ones. Clansman radio and interconnection boxes knobs were more robust. The Bowman spring steel cover access retainers, don ten sockets , keyboard sockets plugs /sockets flimsy , radio housing dove tails jam on legacy clansman radio rails unless left a bit loose in CR2 !
KBR couldn’t supply us with hot water in KAF, so in what way are they deemed “dependable partners”?