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When I first imagined Bracer, it wasn’t a product. It was a problem that had played out too many times.

After years in military communications roles, I’d seen what happened when comms failed: confusion, broken coordination, and in some cases, serious risk to life. The PACE concept existed — Primary, Alternate, Contingency, Emergency — but was rarely formalised or properly rehearsed. In the early 1990s, procurement efforts focused almost entirely on Primary and Alternate systems, still shaped by Cold War assumptions. Contingency and Emergency options were often improvised: public pay phones, physical runners, or whatever was at hand.

At that time, there were no commercial mobile networks, no internet, and only limited use of Private Mobile Radios (PMR), which had very short range. High Frequency (HF) radios were the most reliable option — and, in many cases, the only viable one. X-band satellite systems began to appear, but these were large, expensive, and geared more toward operational headquarters than frontline tactical users. Setup was slow, mobility was limited, and few units had access. Tactical satellite (TacSAT) systems were introduced in the 1980s and 90s, offering man-portable options, but channels were scarce and only specialist units were equipped.

When the world changed

The rise of the internet and mobile communications transformed the commercial world — but defence was left behind. While businesses embraced digital agility, military systems and procedures remained rooted in legacy technology.

At the same time, new threats were emerging. Terrorist and extremist groups were using global communications to coordinate and launch attacks with unprecedented reach and lethality. Defence posture shifted in response. Large-scale unilateral deployments gave way to smaller, multi-agency and often multinational teams operating at distance, in austere environments. The Combat Net Radio systems then in use — long considered Primary and Alternate solutions — struggled to meet the new demands. In many cases, they were irrelevant. That was over 20 years ago, and yet in many nations, those same radio systems are still in service, still considered the backbone of tactical communications. They have a place — especially when the operational remit changes suddenly, as we’ve seen in Ukraine — but they can no longer be the only answer.

This is a textbook example of what Clausewitz called the changing character of war. While the nature of war — political aims, violence, uncertainty — remains constant, the character is shaped by culture, technology, and context. And it changes rapidly.

Procurement can’t keep up

Defence procurement struggles to keep up. Change moves at a snail’s pace compared to the rapid innovation of adversaries. Over the past two decades, industry has developed systems such as Mobile Ad Hoc Networks and Software Defined Radios to address the demands of modern operations. But these capabilities are often reserved for specialist users. For the wider force, access is limited — and even when systems are available, the path to acceptance is long, cautious, and tightly controlled.

That same disconnect between front-line need and procurement reality was still present when I left the military — and, in many ways, it still is. There are glimmers of change: innovation budgets are emerging, and new teams are being empowered to think differently. But systemic inertia remains.

Bringing Bracer to life

When I joined QinetiQ after years of military service, I stepped into a world of possibility — a chance to make a difference, this time from the other side. I teamed up with Gary Brookes, a brilliant engineer with deep technical expertise. Together, we explored how the Iridium Push-To-Talk (PTT) service could be adapted to serve the real-world needs of military and government users.

We weren’t trying to create another tactical radio. This wasn’t about gadgets. We set out to design a tool for the moment everything else fails — a secure, infrastructure-independent fallback that could preserve trust, tempo and coordination in the worst operational conditions. That concept became Bracer: a secure Iridium-based PTT and position reporting device. Low-cost, adaptable, FIPS 140-2 Level 3 certified — and built to enhance mission success.

With QinetiQ’s backing, we moved quickly from concept to development. Bracer was built in under 18 months — and that speed mattered. In a world where most capability timelines are measured in decades, we needed to show that rapid development was possible. The project drew on the expertise of the Malvern team — QinetiQ’s centre of excellence for radio-frequency systems — whose knowledge of encryption, secure comms, EW and signal resilience was vital.

From the start, the system was designed with the deployed soldier in mind. We stripped out anything unnecessary and focused on Low SWaP from day one. Using Iridium meant global availability without relying on roaming networks. The system achieved high-level US certification for security. It was lightweight, easy to programme, and added a new level of assured fallback to any PACE plan — not just for defence, but for government, emergency services and coast guard use.

Gary Brookes did not live to see the full impact Bracer would have. His brilliance and spirit live on in every part of its design. He is sorely missed.

The journey from concept to combat wasn’t easy. But it was driven by a constant: the need to stay connected when everything else goes dark.

What the users say

Fielding a new capability is always a challenge. The hardest part is often not the development, but the journey to adoption: finding the right sponsors, demonstrating the system in realistic settings, and navigating extended procurement cycles.

Almost every organisation that has trialled Bracer has seen its value immediately. It fills a critical gap in modern communications: a lightweight, secure, infrastructure-independent system that enhances coordination, especially at reach or in austere environments. But many trials began at the front line — with users who lacked the budgetary power to trigger procurement. The result: slow traction, despite clear operational need.

Where Bracer was adopted under operational funding, results were rapid. One early deployment delivered the system within three weeks of approval. Today, it's estimated that 80–90% of Bracer devices are in active operational use internationally.

Feedback from those deployments has been consistent — and powerful:

International special forces user

“The system is easy to use and reliable – it simply works.”

International logistics unit

“Bracer has transformed our communications on the move and at reach. Position reporting gives us real-time visibility of our convoys and allows us to engage with key personnel during transit. Before Bracer, we were using procedures from World War II — posting personnel at key points to report when convoys passed.”

Arctic deployment team

“Normally we have to establish numerous rebroadcast stations just to maintain VHF coverage. With Bracer, we maintained reliable communications throughout — without the need for that extra infrastructure.”

Rotary air wing commander

“Bracer was in every crew grab bag. When one airframe had to make an unplanned landing due to mechanical issues, they used Bracer to contact HQ within minutes. The position reporting meant there was no need to pass coordinates — the aircraft’s location was already visible in the Ops Room.”

Multinational operational team

“We hit the ground and were able to function immediately. Setup took under five minutes. Bracer gave us clear voice and position reporting from the moment we arrived. It’s a true PACE radio.”

Other users have described Bracer as:

• A lightweight, versatile system for maritime operations, easily body-worn or installed on vessels;
• A practical solution for long-range, high-risk deployments where traditional C2 links are unavailable;
• A plug-and-play extension to existing soldier systems — integrating seamlessly with MANET radios, RoIP devices, tactical audio harnesses and more.

In one case, a national force commander mandated Bracer’s inclusion on all operational deployments. In another, an international organisation described it as “the perfect solution for a complex mission,” noting its voice clarity and speed of position reporting.

Across domains — land, sea, air — the verdict has been clear: Bracer is simple, reliable, and operationally transformative.

The innovation loop must hold

The Bracer journey has been an illuminating one. Leaving the military meant stepping away from mission execution — but stepping into industry offered a new kind of impact. It gave me perspective on just how deep the problems with tactical communications run across defence. And how consistently those same issues appear, regardless of the country or force.

Being part of a team that developed a solution — one that is already helping operators in the field — has been a privilege. Hearing how it’s performed in real operations, from Arctic deployments to helicopter incidents to long-range convoys, has made this work more rewarding than I imagined.

That said, the procurement challenge remains. Defence routinely asks industry to innovate — but struggles to invest in the results. When funding is limited, approval processes are slow, and budgets are locked years in advance, the innovation loop breaks. Businesses take real risks to develop capability. Without a clear market and committed funding pathways, those risks may eventually become too great.

Bracer has proven itself across domains — air, land, maritime — and across scales, from small teams to major force elements. It is simple, effective, and cost-efficient. It enhances the PACE plan, not by replacing core systems, but by strengthening them. In a world where the character of conflict is changing fast, versatility is essential. Bracer gives frontline teams confidence — and gives procurement teams breathing space as they work to deliver the larger, slower-moving communications programmes.

A note on legacy

Gary Brookes, the engineer who co-developed Bracer, died before the system was fully fielded. His insight, technical brilliance and belief in doing things differently are embedded in every aspect of the device. Bracer exists because of him — and continues to carry his mark.

After a career managing operational communications in high-risk environments, Tim Williams joined QinetiQ to co-develop Bracer — a secure fallback system shaped by real operational demands.