DSEI UK 2025: Babcock integrates GDAMS with Bowman

A new application developed by Babcock, in collaboration with General Dynamics Mission Systems–UK (GDMS–UK) and ShieldOps, has successfully integrated the Ground Deployed Advanced Mortar System (GDAMS) with the British Army’s Bowman tactical communications systems.

The new system, named the Babcock Advanced Ballistic Engagement Layer (BABEL), was showcased at the DSEI exhibition from 9-12 September. It allows the GDAMS to communicate with the Bowman ComBAT Infrastructure and Platform (BCIP) Battlefield Information System Application.

This integration facilitates the networking of firepower, allowing for a connection between sensor and effector. According to the developers, BABEL enables the GDAMS to execute fire missions at the speed of data transfer, connecting sensors, platforms, and decision-makers through the Digital Targeting Web. The Digital Targeting Web is one of the commitments to come from the UK’s Strategic Defence Review. The government has committed to establishing the infrastructure that will allow ‘any sensor to pass data to any shooter,’ or words to that effect. 

The British Army’s contribution to this is reflected in two projects, Project ASGARD, and Project ZODIAC. ASGARD focuses on speeding up kill chains and ZODIAC on the integration of reconnaissance systems into a digital backbone. 

GDAMS, which will be manufactured in Devonport, Plymouth if procured, is described as the UK’s first sovereign mortar capability in the September 10 press release. However, it is based on designs from ST Engineering, and follows from a partnership announced in 2024. The project is expected to create 230 direct skilled jobs and a further 1,000 indirect jobs. 

Chris Spicer, Managing Director for Engineering & Systems Integration at Babcock, said the British Army “needs a transformational close fires solution which is ready to integrate with existing systems, as well as evolve for future systems and technologies – GDAMS delivers both.” He added that the development of BABEL “marks a step change in digital mortar technology.”

Chris Burrows, Vice President, UK TacCIS, GDMS-UK, stated that the collaboration “shows the power of UK-led defence innovation.” He added that the BABEL integration is “poised to contribute to an increase in the British Army’s fighting power by greatly accelerating decision-making on the battlefield.”

Calibre comment

There is a lot of emphasis placed on the speed of decision-making in fire support under the assumption that quicker decisions lead to fire support being delivered sooner and that this will lead to better combat outcomes. Getting rounds onto target quickly is certainly important, but a mortar is primarily intended to support a battalion or battlegroup, which may mean a close relationship and rapid response times anyway. Furthermore, the limited range of a mortar would ostensibly minimise the utility of adding sensors to its network, as it can only affect targets within a relatively small area. That said, adding capabilities to the UK’s Bowman network, and building applications that allow it to integrate other systems is a valuable addition.

By Sam Cranny-Evans, published on September 19, 2025. Credit for the lead image is Babcock.