Personal Role Radio set to revolutionise tactical control Published Thursday 2nd August 2001 The new Bowman Personal Role Radio will transform the tactical control of frontline troops, providing individuals with the means to rapidly and reliably communicate with each other in combat. Whilst radios have long been in service for communication from the infantry section or similar unit up the command chain, communication within the section has relied on shouted orders or hand signals. Clearly, in combat, such methods can have drawbacks. However, the Personal Role Radio takes advantage of the progress in communications technology to provide each member of the team with a low-cost lightweight headset and radio, no bigger than a personal stereo system, allowing troops up to several hundred metres apart to pass orders and tactical information quickly, quietly and reliably, even amongst buildings or in heavy woodland. The Personal Role Radio is part of the much wider Bowman radio system, but was ordered under a separate contract to ensure the earliest possible delivery, as an example of Smart Acquisition. An order worth £20 million was placed with Marconi in February 2001, for the delivery and support of some 45,000 radios, and deliveries began on 23 July 2001, ahead of schedule and on budget. The radio is being issued to combat troops in all three Services, including the Royal Marines, the RAF Regiment, and Army infantry, engineer and artillery units, with an in-service date of next March. The Defence Secretary announced on 19 July that the contract for the main Bowman project would be awarded to CDC. Related items > Bowman contract to be awarded to CDC (19 July 2001) The Ministry of Defence is not responsible for the content or availability of external websites. A Royal Marine of 45 Commando taking part in tactical trials of the new radio A close-up of the lightweight headset and radio, which clips