Northrop Grumman's BACN reaches mission milestone
Northrop Grumman has announced that its Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) has reached a significant milestone, having completed 3,000 missions flying aboard the E-11A Bombardier Global Express BD-700 aircraft in support of overseas contingency missions. The company made the announcement 30 August 2012.
According to the company, the 451st Tactical Airborne Gateway at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, executed the 3,000th mission on 14 July.
Northrop Grumman developed BACN for the US Air Force to overcome the communications limitations posed by the rugged terrain in Afghanistan under a contract issued in 2005.
BACN is a high-altitude, airborne communications and information gateway system that provides situational awareness and C2 coordination between warfighters and commanders. With a suite of computers and radio systems, BACN bridges and extends voice communications and battlespace information from numerous sources.
According to the company, since the system's deployment in 2008, it has delivered ‘near 24/7 coverage in theatre’.
Northrop Grumman was also recently awarded a $106 million contract modification to extend the deployment and operation of BACN payloads installed in three E-11A aircraft and three EQ-4B Block 20 Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles. The award supports operations through June 2013.
More from Digital Battlespace
-
![British Army’s ISR commander warns of new challenges facing defence forces]()
British Army’s ISR commander warns of new challenges facing defence forces
The race between using ISR and resisting the use of it by enemies has accelerated, leading to new methods and systems being required, according to the British Army’s lead on its ISR efforts.
-
![Jacobs wins MoD cyber-security support contract]()
Jacobs wins MoD cyber-security support contract
The deal with Jacobs will run until November 2027 and will see the company deliver a range of digital and IT specialist professional services to Defence Digital.
-
![Orbit upgrades two multi-purpose terminals and carries out land testing]()
Orbit upgrades two multi-purpose terminals and carries out land testing
The communications company has upgraded two of its Beyond Line-of-Sight Multi-Purpose Terminals (MBTs) by introducing advancements in satellite communication technology and AI-driven maintenance capabilities.
-
![Norway to receive maritime surveillance satellite data from Kongsberg]()
Norway to receive maritime surveillance satellite data from Kongsberg
Norway's Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace has announced that its subsidiary Kongsberg NanoAvionics will produce three satellites and launch them in 2025.
-
![First South Korean 425 Project observation satellite launched]()
First South Korean 425 Project observation satellite launched
In 2015, South Korea named a consortium of Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and Hanwha Systems, along with Thales Alenia Space providing the SAR payload derived from its HE-R1000 product, as preferred bidder to develop new Korea 425 Project reconnaissance satellites.
