PTARMIGAN    
 

Ptarmigan is a mobile, secure battlefield system that incorporates the latest technology and has been designed to improve communications reliability, capacity and interoperability.

Ptarmigan remains the core equipment for the British Army Tactical Trunk Communications System, and has undergone a number of upgrades to be better prepared to meet the challenges of changing deployments and new operational requirements.


This has included the introduction of an Air Portable Secondary Access Node (SAN) for 16 Air Assault Brigade. The General Purpose Trunk Access Port (GPTAP) software enhancement will allow improved Interconnectivity to other nations tactical systems.

Bowman is shortly to replace the HQ infrastructure element of Ptarmigan. In time, Ptarmigan is due to be replaced by Falcon, which is in the early process of project definition, and will not be in service for several years. Falcon is expected to build on the lessons learned from the current introduction of Cormorant.

Built by Siemens Plessey Christchurch (now part of BAe Systems) in the mid 1980s, Ptarmigan is a user friendly, computer controlled communications system which was initially designed to meet the needs of the British Army in Germany. The system consists of a network of electronic exchanges or Trunk Switches that are connected by satellite and multi-channel radio relay (Triffid) links that provide voice, data, telegraph and fax communications.

The Trunk Switch, radio and satellite relays together with their support vehicles comprise a 'Trunk Node' and all field headquarters include a group of communications vehicles that contain an Access Switch which can be connected to any Trunk Switch giving access to the system. This ensures that headquarters have flexibility in both siting and facilities and trunk communications then present no constraints on operations. Additionally Ptarmigan has a mobile telephone or Single Channel Radio Access (SCRA) which gives isolated or mobile users an entry point into the entire system.