• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

BAE SYSTEMS Awarded Five-Year Ptarmigan Support Contract

07 Jul 2003

The contract covers support activities for the next five years as the system reaches its out-of-service date of 2011.

It is to be replaced by the FALCON communication system, for which BAE SYSTEMS C4ISR is undertaking one of two competitive Assessment Phase contracts. A limited test and reference network will be maintained to enable diagnosis and rectification of any system problems that may arise during the remainder of Ptarmigans in-service life.

The BAE SYSTEMS C4ISR Christchurch-based Communications & Defence Infrastructure teams partners are Dytecna, Marconi Selenia Secure Systems, Haysys Ltd, Racal Instruments, Insys and Marshall.

This award coincides with the 30th anniversary of the award of the original Ptarmigan development contract, which was let in July 1973 and led to the systems first fielding in the mid-1980s.

Ptarmigan was the worlds first deployed military digital area communications system. It incorporated many of the advanced data packaging and switching technologies now mirrored in the world of civil telecommunications. The system has supported British Forces in several recent major campaigns and has been updated to reflect changing military requirements in particular those of expeditionary warfare, peacekeeping roles and the emergence of Network Enabled Capability in the ever expanding digitized battlespace.

About BAE SYSTEMS:

BAE SYSTEMS is an international company engaged in the development, delivery and support of advanced defence and aerospace systems in the air, on land, at sea and in space. The company designs, manufactures and supports military aircraft, surface ships, submarines, radar, avionics, communications, electronics and guided weapon systems. It is a pioneer in technology with a heritage stretching back hundreds of years. It is at the forefront of innovation, working to develop the next generation of intelligent defence systems.

BAE SYSTEMS has major operations across five continents and customers in some 130 countries. The company has 100,000 people and generates annual sales of approximately 12 billion through its wholly-owned and joint venture operations.

BAE SYSTEMS, innovating for a safer world.

For further information contact:

Dennis Burton, BAE SYSTEMS C4ISR
Tel: +44 (0) 1202 408512
dennis.burton@baesystems.com