The US Air Force has received its ninth Bombardier Global 6000 business jet for the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) program. The handover was conducted at Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford, Massachusetts, headquarters of the BACN program office.
Known in service as the E-11A, the aircraft will act as a high-altitude communications relay, linking air and ground units with secure voice and data connections. Its role is vital for operations across mountainous regions, difficult terrain, and extended distances where connectivity is often limited.
Developed following lessons from Afghanistan, the BACN program was first tested using NASA’s WB-57 Canberra before adopting Bombardier’s Global jets. Since then, BACN aircraft — dubbed “Wi-Fi in the sky” — have flown over 15,500 missions and achieved more than 98 percent mission readiness.
The new delivery falls under a contract awarded in 2021, worth up to $465 million, which schedules yearly orders through 2025. The first E-11A under the contract was delivered in September 2022, with subsequent units arriving in 2024.
Powered by twin Rolls-Royce BR710A2-20 turbofan engines, the E-11A reaches speeds of 504 knots (580 miles/933 kilometers per hour) and altitudes of 51,000 feet (15,545 meters). It is 100 feet (30 meters) long with a 94-foot (29-meter) wingspan and can accommodate 17 personnel or about 5,770 pounds (2,617 kilograms) of payload.
