Bombardier has now handed over eight Globals to the U.S. Air Force for its BACN airborne communications program.
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Bombardier Defense delivered the eighth Global-family special-mission aircraft to the U.S. Air Force (USAF) for the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) program. The handover of the Global 6500 platform took place at the company’s Hartford, Connecticut service center under an indefinite delivery indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract affirmed in 2021 and valued at up to $465 million.
That IDIQ contract followed the delivery of four previous Globals under other BACN agreements that had occurred since 2007. Under the 2021 award, the USAF initially had a firm order for one aircraft with the potential of adding as many as five more. The next—and ninth total—delivery is slated for 2025.
Known as the E-11A and dubbed “Wi-Fi in the sky” by the USAF, BACN aircraft serve as high-altitude communications gateways that can relay or bridge voice and tactical data supporting missions across air, land, and sea.
“The speed, agility, and low operating costs of our Global jets make them ideally suited for specialized missions meant to strengthen national and international security initiatives, such as the critical BACN program,” said Jean-Christophe Gallagher, executive v-p of aircraft sales and Bombardier Defense. “With the delivery of this aircraft, Bombardier Defense continues to deepen its relationship with the U.S. Air Force and set itself apart as a missionized platform provider of choice.”
Bombardier said its Global models have been selected for more than 10 different mission types around the world. These aircraft are playing a key role in the company’s quest to build up its defense business as a key sector that could contribute $1 billion to $1.5 billion to its revenues by 2030.
Bombardier Defense delivered the eighth Global-family special-mission aircraft to the U.S. Air Force (USAF) for the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) program. The handover of the Global 6500 platform took place at the company’s Hartford, Connecticut service center under an indefinite delivery indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract affirmed in 2021 and valued at up to $465 million.
That IDIQ contract followed the delivery of four previous Globals under other BACN agreements that had occurred since 2007. Under the 2021 award, the USAF initially had a firm order for one aircraft with the potential of adding as many as five more. The next—and ninth total—delivery is slated for 2025
Known as the E-11A and dubbed “Wi-Fi in the sky” by the USAF, BACN aircraft serve as high-altitude communications gateways that can relay or bridge voice tactical data supporting missions across air, land, and sea.
“The speed, agility, and low operating costs of our Global jets make them ideally suited for specialized missions meant to strengthen national and international security initiatives, such as the critical BACN program,” said Jean-Christophe Gallagher, executive v-p of aircraft sales and Bombardier Defense. “With the delivery of this aircraft, Bombardier Defense continues to deepen its relationship with the U.S. Air Force and set itself apart as a missionized platform provider of choice.”