Bombardier Defense has delivered the ninth Global 6000 business jet to the US Air Force for its Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) program.
The handover took place at Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford, Massachusetts, home to the BACN program office.
The aircraft, designated as the E-11A, will serve as a high-altitude communications hub to maintain secure voice and data links between air and ground forces.
It will enhance situational awareness and coordination on missions that require reliable connectivity across mountains, rough terrain, and long distances.
‘Wi-Fi in the Sky’
The BACN program, created based on lessons learned during operations in Afghanistan, first tested its communications technology on NASA’s WB-57 Canberra aircraft before moving to the Bombardier Global jets.
Since its inception, the BACN fleet — often called “Wi-Fi in the sky” — has flown more than 15,500 missions, maintaining a mission readiness rate above 98 percent.
The latest delivery is part of a contract approved in 2021, valued at up to $465 million, with annual orders scheduled through 2025.
Shipment of the first E-11A from the agreement was completed in September 2022, with the most recent delivery taking place in November 2024.
“At Bombardier Defense, we are honored to see our reliable, high-performing Global aircraft serve the United States Air Force in critical missions worldwide through the BACN program,” Bombardier Defense Aircraft Sales EVP Jean-Christophe Gallagher commented on the Hanscom handover.
“We are grateful for the longstanding trust of the US Air Force, and we look forward to continuing to support the operational needs of the United States.”
The E-11A BACN Aircraft
The US Air Force’s E-11A BACN aircraft is powered by two Rolls-Royce BR710A2-20 turbofan engines, giving it a top speed of 504 knots (580 miles/933 kilometers per hour) and an operational altitude of 51,000 feet (15,545 meters).
The aircraft measures 100 feet (30 meters) long with a wingspan of 94 feet (29 meters). It can carry up to 17 personnel or payloads weighing roughly 5,770 pounds (2,617 kilograms).
