A team at Hanscom Air Force Base in Massachusetts awarded a $464.8 million contract to Learjet, Inc., this week in support of the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node program, the Air Force said.

The contract funds for up to six Bombardier Global 6000 aircraft with a five-year delivery period, according to the Air Force's announcement.

"These aircraft are required for continuous operations outside the contiguous United States in multiple theaters of operation," Elizabeth Rosa, BACN procurement lead, Aerial Networks Division, said in the release. "This acquisition will support the mission by expanding the current fleet to provide a service retained capability to rapidly respond to the operational needs of combatant commanders worldwide."

According to the Air Force, seven aircraft currently carry the BACN payload on two different platforms: three manned E-11As and four unmanned Global Hawk E-Q4Bs.

Once a Global 6000 has been outfitted with BACN technology, which enables real-time information flow across the battlespace through relay and data translation, it is classified as an E-11A.

Because of its flexible deployment options and ability to operate at high altitudes, BACN allows air and surface forces to overcome communication problems caused by mountains or challenging terrain -- and provides critical information to all operational echelons.

The BACN program office is part Aerial Networks Division of the Command, Control, Communications, Intelligence and Networks Directorate, which is headquartered at Hanscom.

Related Links
Aerospace News at SpaceMart.com

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

Enaire and Indra plan new constellation to improve air traffic management
Madrid, Spain (SPX) Jun 02, 2021
Enaire and Indra have created a public-private initiative project for satellite technology innovation. Once the validation phase has taken place, the project's objective is to create and deploy a network of more than 200 small satellites at a low altitude to improve air traffic management with a global service vision over the entire planet. The incorporation of Startical, the name of the company formed by Enaire and Indra for the development of this satellite project, has been approved by the Coun ... read more