Northrop Grumman Methods Corp., McLean, Virginia, was awarded a $464,399,742 contract motion for Battlefield Airborne Communications Node E-11A (BACN E-11A) platform upkeep and primary working base contractor logistics help institution. This process order offers for operations and sustainment of the BACN E-11A platform subsystems and ancillary gear to proceed efficient flight operations to incorporate the continental U.S. and out of doors the continental U.S. areas, scheduled and unscheduled upkeep and provide necessities for the E-11A plane and related help gear.
As well as, this acquisition will set up a primary working base at an Air Drive base within the continental U.S. for the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node E-11A (BACN E-11A) fleet to help coaching and deployed operations. Work is anticipated to be accomplished by Jan. 23, 2028. This contract was a aggressive acquisition, and one supply was acquired. Fiscal 2023 operations and upkeep funds within the quantity of $37,601,066 are being obligated on the time of award. U.S. Air Drive Life Cycle Administration Heart, Hanscom Air Drive Base, Massachusetts, is the contracting exercise.
Commercial
The Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) is a U.S. Ait Drive airborne communications relay and gateway system carried by the unmanned EQ-4B and the manned Bombardier E-11A plane. BACN allows real-time info stream throughout the battlespace between comparable and dissimilar tactical information hyperlink and voice techniques by way of relay, bridging, and information translation in line-of-sight and beyond-line-of-sight conditions. Its means to translate between dissimilar communications techniques permits them to interoperate with out modification. BACN can allow air and floor forces to beat communications difficulties attributable to mountains, different tough terrain, or distance.
The E-11A is a modified, Bombardier World Categorical 6000/BD700-1A10 enterprise jet geared up with specialised communications relay gear to translate between tactical comm and information hyperlinks.It offers joint vary extension, BLOS C2, and web protocol-based information switch between dissimilar techniques. E-11A was fielded to satisfy an pressing operational want for BLOS air-to-ground relay. The system entered fight in Afghanistan in 2008 and allows troops to beat comm limitations in rugged terrain. The mixed BACN fleet has supplied near-constant protection in theater, surpassing 100,000 flying hours in 2019.
