Global 6000 aircraft. (Photo: Bombardier)
The US Air Force Life Cycle Management Center has awarded Bombardier Learjet a $464.85 million IDIQ contract to provide up to six Global 6000 aircraft in the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) programme.
Work on the sole-source contract will be performed in Wichita, Kansas, for completion in May 2026.
Shephard Defence Insight notes that BACN provides an airborne communications gateway capability to US commanders and warfighters, connecting voice and data link networks. The communications node bridges gaps between disparate systems, enabling situation awareness across multiple levels.
Today, BACN operates on two US platforms: the E-11A (a version of the Bombardier 700 business jet) and the EQ-4B Global Hawk UAS.
The airborne three-domain, the two ground-based and the ¼ ATR OpenVPX-based cross-domain systems were engineered to provide real-time security across multi-domain operations.
DARPA’s Mission-Integrated Network Control (MINC) programme was set up to develop an autonomous tactical network and enable critical data flow in contested environments.
Why space is an essential part of modern military capabilities
Defence-secure mixed reality headsets can save hours, or even weeks, of travel time to fix defunct equipment or get subject experts effectively “on-site” where they are needed.
The Joint Counter Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare (JCREW) counter-improvised explosive device (C-IED) and Drone Restricted Access Using Known Electromagnetic Warfare (DRAKE) counter-UAS (CUAS) systems are mounted and dismounted RF jammers.
Adarga’s Vantage information analysis tool is in service with the UK MoD and individual UK forces. It builds on the company’s Knowledge Platform which processes, organises and analyses open source material, as well as information held by the user’s military, security and intelligence services.
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