'Better Off With Map And Nokia': British Army Review #190

‘Better Off With Map And Nokia’. Undoubtedly not the eponym those working in Defence procurement at the turn of the millennium had any desire to hear from the mouths of soldiers stepping into the then brave new world of Bowman.

Whether or not such derision was deserved (and the system’s well-documented, problematic past suggests that, at least originally, detracting voices were warranted), the moniker afforded to the Army’s communications successor to Clansman can – ironically – be considered something of a compliment in today’s context.

How so? Try asking those new recruits using Bowman in the British Army of 2024 what a Nokia is, and I’ll bet you’ll receive more blank looks than you do nostalgic smiles. A tongue-in-cheek observation, perhaps, but given how much the world and technology have evolved around it, the system’s staying power is commendable.

I first heard Bowman mentioned in excited whispers during a reporting assignment to Kosovo, where soldiers deployed on six-month peacekeeping tours during the early noughties revelled in the opportunity to buy bootleg CDs from the entrepreneurial locals who had quite literally set up shop outside the gates of British camps. As evidenced by the brisk business for Republica and REM rip offs, music and video downloads had yet to emerge as the dominant force in the field of entertainment. Indeed, the first iteration of the iPod was not launched until October 2001 (post Bowman’s conception). Fast forward to today and Bowman remains in service, although admittedly not for much longer, while the iPod – a product which spanned five models and 26 iterations across two decades – was discontinued by Apple in 2022 having sold an estimated 450 million units.

While accepting that comparing a military’s ‘primary land environment command and control system’ with a consumer-targeted portable audio player is not comparing apples with apples (excuse the pun), the obsoletion or maturity of other ‘newer’ technologies demonstrates the difficulties associated with force development and trying to ensure the Army does not find itself behind the technological curve.

As touched on by Colonel Pete Brunton in this issue of The British Army Review, those being asked to innovate and accelerate modernisation today and that will fight tomorrow signed up to serve with expectations of working in an organisation at the cutting edge. Human-machine integration is not a leap of faith for the current generation, but an intuition honed by the realities of modern life.

Take, for example, the ‘Map’ in Bowman’s early nickname and consider how – in a societal context – its use has all but been abandoned by motorists. More often than not, drivers rely on personal or in-built satellite navigation devices to get them from A to B, taking for granted their in-car companion’s ability to avoid lengthy delays caused by accidents ahead and to warn them of the presence of speed traps. This journey to dependence has been achieved in part by drivers being reassured by positive experiences of the technology, but also through machine learning. Proficient systems assess habits, building an understanding of where a driver deviates from instruction and adapts its route planning accordingly.

Similarly, the ubiquitous smartphone is a hotline to a world of knowledge (as well as potential misinformation) rather than just a means to contact family and friends. Any doubts over the reliability of Siri’s weather forecasting have long since evaporated and, more significantly, people expect to be able to ask their phone a question and have it respond.

Technology’s touch is also being felt in myriad ways on the modern battlefield, as evidenced by the first-hand experiences of the Ukrainian drone operator who has contributed to this edition, which explores the challenges and opportunities of implementing a new digital backbone for the Army.

Bowman’s endurance has been demonstrated in spades but, as it prepares to bow out after nearly three decades, the pressure on the Service to make sound calls on the direction of technological travel are greater than ever. Thankfully, the data-rich pages that follow suggest every effort is being made to ensure any costly capability cul-de-sacs are avoided. – Andrew Simms