DTDT 2022: Preferred bidders announced for systems and data roles for UK machine teaming project

Two companies – Rowden Technologies and IBM – have been announced as the preferred bidders for two separate contracts under the broader British Army Human Machine Teaming (HMT) programme.

Speaking at the 2022 Disruptive Technology for Defence Transformation Conference (DTDT) in London, held from 27 to 29 September, a UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) spokesperson announced that UK company Rowden has been downselected as the preferred bidder for the systems integrator role, while IBM is the preferred bidder for the data management aspect of the HMT programme.

IBM was selected partly because the company will act as a core supplier, bringing in other organisations to field specific needs as and when they arise, the spokesperson told Janes .

In March, Lieutenant Colonel Iain Lamont, SO1 Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) for the British Army, informed Janes that, as part of HMT, the MoD would launch a competition for the data management service and systems integrator roles.

The data management service role will help manage governance, regulation, curation, and the storage of data support, enabling RAS, Lt Col Lamont said. The chosen provider may be tasked with establishing a highly secure storage solution, Lt Col Lamont added.

Lt Col Lamont added that, in a separate competition, a systems integrator may be selected to help with the integration of original equipment manufacturers and the front-line commands. The role would also involve handling the technical integration of the platforms and systems.