The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has provided further clarity on the delays plaguing the Morpheus tactical communications programme.
The project, designed to replace the ageing Bowman communications system, has been confirmed to face significant setbacks, with no clear timeline for its operational deployment.
Responding to parliamentary questions, Maria Eagle, Minister of State for Defence, explained:
“The MORPHEUS project is delayed following contract delays in 2021.”
Additionally, Eagle revealed that the MoD concluded its contract with General Dynamics Mission Systems UK (GDMS UK) in December 2023 due to the company’s failure to meet contractual obligations under the “Evolve to Open” (EvO) transition partner framework. The decision has been scrutinised, but Eagle assured Parliament:
“Commercial confidentiality precludes providing the specific details of the arrangements made; however, the Department can provide assurance that these arrangements have been verified by both HM Treasury and Cabinet Office as representing the best value for money approach for the taxpayer.”
To date, the Morpheus project has incurred a cost of approximately £828 million. Despite these expenditures, the programme remains in limbo, with Bowman’s service life extended to bridge the gap. Bowman, initially slated for retirement, will remain in use until at least 2031, with a potential out-of-service date as late as 2035.
This delay has forced the Ministry to upgrade Bowman under the Bowman 5.7 project, ensuring compatibility with new military vehicles like Challenger 3, Boxer, and Ajax, which will now enter service with the legacy system rather than the modernised Morpheus platform.
When asked about financial penalties or contractual adjustments imposed on GDMS UK, Eagle highlighted the MoD’s decision to conclude the EvO TP contract rather than pursue continued engagement.
She described the conclusion of the contract as the most effective option to safeguard taxpayer interests.
Tactical Communications Under Strain
The Morpheus programme was initially conceived to provide the British Armed Forces with cutting-edge tactical communication capabilities. Managed by the Battlefield and Tactical Communications and Information Systems (BATCIS) Delivery Team, the programme was expected to deliver an open, agile system capable of meeting modern operational demands.
The challenges have cast a shadow over the programme’s future, with the delays necessitating interim measures and raising questions about the UK’s ability to modernise critical military communications infrastructure. While the MoD has reiterated its commitment to delivering the programme, the timeline and pathway to achieving this remain fraught with uncertainty.
What an absolute shambles of a project this has become.
£828 million down the drain; how do they do it? Astounding
If you say “828 million” quickly? It sounds ok….
This really is bad. Whilst Bowman was eventually very capable (I remember in Mali the only secure radio system working properly was UK Bowman), it has nowhere near the bandwidth or capability needed to maintain modern battlefield data requirements, particularly for things like developing a common operating picture.
As the old adage goes, “no comms, no bombs!”
As someone who comes from the comms and network world What is the problem? Who wrote the specs a bean counter or an Engineer? I know when I wrote RFPs they were hundreds of pages long, with what I needed, what I wanted, what I would like, the time frame and what would happen if it was not delivered.
If you want something to cut…