Westland passes milestones in BOWMAN programme

Westland Helicopters, an AgustaWestland company and a member of the General Dynamics UK BOWMAN team, has achieved several milestones in its programme activities. As the system design and equipment reaches a level of maturity, Westland's current programmes in air and land static platforms installation, design, certification and conversion, training and integrated logistic support are all gaining momentum.

The integration of BOWMAN into the Royal Air Force's Merlin HC Mk3 has passed its initial design review with the Chinook Mk2 and Mk2A review due to take place in late summer 2002.The BOWMAN strategy for land static platform installation has now been formalised and the plan for pre-conversion site surveys issued. Site surveys are scheduled to commence at Warminster in August 2002.

The first sites will be converted to BOWMAN in line with the Brigade Unit Slice programme, which is due to, commence in July 2003.Logistic design support to the land, sea and air installation programme are progressing well with initial logistic support analysis on BOWMAN equipment undergoing a period of formal review.

The prototype BOWMAN electronic classroom with its integrated student station has been accepted and the first integrated modules of the BOWMAN Communication Software Solution (BCSS) was demonstrated at the recent Army 2002 exhibition at Larkhill. Westland has now commenced installation of its BOWMAN e-classroom integration facility at Yeovil where the delivery system for BOWMAN training will be tested and certified prior to its initial fielding trial due at the end of 2002.

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