General Dynamics, EADS DS Ltd, and Paradigm Sign Contract for Joint Networks Program

LONDON, Oct. 26, 2005/Satnews Daily/ ¾ The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a contract with General Dynamics UK Ltd, EADS DS and Paradigm Services, to deliver the Joint Networks Integration Body (JNIB) program.

The JNIB was established by the MoD to identify and deliver fully programmed solutions to integration capability shortfalls across the network of networks that form the Global Information Infrastructure (GII). It will consider all Lines of Development in order to deliver 'end-to-end' communications capability. It is being envisioned as the blueprint for future programs to ensure that the capability is sustained as new networks are procured. Once implemented, these solutions will yield significant improvements in operational capability for the end users.

Following a highly successful pilot study, funding has now been approved for a 5-year contract. The contract award announced on Tuesday has a total budget in the region of 16 million pounds Sterling (GBP).

General Dynamics said initial work will be based on the BOWMAN, Cormorant, and Skynet 5 systems, but the program includes a plan to expand the number of systems addressed by JNIB as soon as practical. The commercial arrangements put in place for JNIB will enable the wider engagement of industry companies, who will bring specific expertise of their particular systems, to JNIB. The contract and methods of working reflect the 'joint' ethos of the program.

The joint MoD/Industry JNIB team consists of the MoD's Bowman And Tactical Communications & Information Systems (BATCIS) Integrated Project Team (IPT), Satellite Communications Acquisition Team (SAT) IPT, Theatre & Formation Communication Systems (TFCS) IPT and stakeholders representing Defence Communications Services Agency (DCSA), Integration Authority (IA), Director Equipment Capability (DEC) Command Control & Information Infrastructure (CCII), Command & Battlespace Management (Land) (CBM(L)) and with the industry companies General Dynamics UK Ltd, EADS Defence and Security Systems, and Paradigm Services. DEC(CCII) is Customer 1 for JNIB and in the future the program will be managed by the newly formed End-to-End Communications IPT.

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