Bombardier Defense has handed over the ninth Global 6000 aircraft to the US Air Force under the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) program. The delivery took place at Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford, Massachusetts, where the BACN program office is located.
Designated the E-11A, the aircraft will serve as a high-altitude communications gateway, ensuring secure voice and data links between airborne and ground forces. It is designed to improve situational awareness and mission coordination in environments with mountains, difficult terrain, or long distances.
The BACN program originated from operational experiences in Afghanistan and initially tested its communications systems aboard NASA’s WB-57 Canberra before transitioning to Bombardier’s Global jet series. Since then, the BACN fleet — often nicknamed “Wi-Fi in the sky” — has completed more than 15,500 missions with a readiness rate exceeding 98 percent.
This latest E-11A delivery is part of a 2021 contract valued at up to $465 million, which provides for annual orders through 2025. The first aircraft under the deal was delivered in September 2022, followed by another in November 2024.
The E-11A is powered by two Rolls-Royce BR710A2-20 turbofan engines, enabling speeds of up to 504 knots (580 miles/933 kilometers per hour) and altitudes of 51,000 feet (15,545 meters). Measuring 100 feet (30 meters) in length with a 94-foot (29-meter) wingspan, it can carry 17 personnel or payloads of approximately 5,770 pounds (2,617 kilograms).
