US Air Forces receives 9th E-11A Bombardier Global jet to strengthen battlefield connectivity
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The U.S. Air Force has taken delivery of its ninth Bombardier Global aircraft configured for the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) program. The jet strengthens the military’s ability to connect communication systems in combat zones, boosting situational awareness and coordination.
Bombardier Defense confirmed the delivery of the ninth Global aircraft to the U.S. Air Force’s Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) program during a ceremony at Hanscom Air Force Base in Massachusetts on September 10, 2025. The E-11A aircraft, often called “Wi-Fi in the sky,” provides a secure, high-altitude relay that connects incompatible communication systems. It matters because the platform enhances command-and-control effectiveness in contested environments, directly supporting U.S. and allied operations.
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The E-11A, derived from the Bombardier Global platform, provides the U.S. Air Force with a long-range, high-altitude aircraft optimized to host advanced communication and electronic systems (Picture source: Bombardier)
The Bombardier Global series, from which the E-11A is derived, is known in the civilian sector as a long-range business jet, recognized for speed, endurance, and reliability. For military applications, this proven airframe offers a stable, high-altitude platform capable of accommodating advanced electronics. In its civilian form, the Global 6000 measures 30.3 meters in length, with a wingspan of 28.7 meters and a height of 7.8 meters. It is powered by two Rolls-Royce BR710A2-20 turbofan engines delivering more than 14,750 pounds of thrust each, allowing the aircraft to cruise at Mach 0.85 with a service ceiling of 51,000 feet. Its fuel tanks can carry about 45,000 pounds of fuel, enabling intercontinental flights of up to 6,000 nautical miles, or roughly 11,100 kilometers. In operational service with the USAF, the E-11A routinely sustains missions exceeding 12 hours, flying long orbits over contested terrain.
The choice of the Global platform reflects the need for a combination of endurance, speed, and internal volume. Unlike larger command aircraft such as the E-3 AWACS, the E-11A can operate from smaller runways, deploy quickly to distant theaters, and remain on station for extended durations with lower operating costs. In its BACN configuration, instead of the usual VIP interiors, the fuselage has been modified to house racks of communications equipment, antenna arrays and processing nodes. This transforms the Global into a flying communications hub, with crews operating consoles dedicated to managing the flow of tactical data across multiple networks.
The communications architecture on board the BACN aircraft allows seamless translation between different tactical data links and radio frequencies. This is crucial in modern joint operations, where ground units, air assets and command centers often rely on incompatible systems. The platform enables secure voice, video and data transfer in real time, bridging communication gaps created by terrain, distance or incompatible waveforms. By orbiting over mountainous areas such as Afghanistan’s rugged landscape, BACN has proven its worth as a reliable means to connect forward-deployed units with higher headquarters.
From a technical standpoint, the USAF’s E-11A fleet is limited in size but highly specialized. Each aircraft is fitted with multiple line-of-sight and beyond-line-of-sight systems, including satellite communications. The system architecture includes integration with Link 16 and other tactical data standards, ensuring interoperability not only between branches of the U.S. military but also with allied forces. While the airframe itself is unarmed, its operational value lies in enhancing the effectiveness of combat platforms by ensuring they can share targeting information, threat data and command instructions without delay.
The tactical and operational impact of the BACN program has been demonstrated in multiple theaters. By enabling communications across different altitudes, terrains and force structures, the E-11A effectively reduces friction in command and control. It allows strike aircraft, surveillance drones, and ground commanders to coordinate even when separated by obstacles that would traditionally block radio transmissions. This enhances situational awareness and accelerates decision-making cycles. In modern warfare, where speed of information often determines the outcome of engagements, such a capability can be decisive.
The geopolitical context of this delivery is equally noteworthy. The U.S. Air Force has invested heavily in connectivity solutions to maintain information dominance in contested environments. The expansion of the BACN fleet comes at a time when peer adversaries are developing electronic warfare tools designed to disrupt command networks. Ensuring robust, flexible and redundant communication systems is therefore a strategic priority. For Bombardier, the successful integration of its business jet platform into such a sensitive military program demonstrates how private industry can adapt civilian aerospace products for defense needs. This model of cooperation reflects a broader trend in which air forces turn to commercially derived platforms for specialized missions, reducing costs while retaining high performance.
The delivery of the ninth aircraft strengthens a partnership that has now lasted nearly two decades. Since the first E-11A entered service, the type has been continuously deployed in overseas operations. Its nickname, “Wi-Fi in the sky,” captures the essence of its mission: to connect the disconnected, ensuring that every unit, regardless of terrain or distance, remains part of the operational picture. The continuation of this program signals that the U.S. Air Force considers airborne communication gateways indispensable for both current missions and future conflicts.
With this new addition, the fleet gains greater resilience, allowing for maintenance rotations while sustaining continuous availability for global deployments. Bombardier Defense, headquartered in Wichita with facilities across North America, continues to provide maintenance and technical support. For the company, the BACN contract reinforces its positioning as a reliable partner for governments seeking tailored airborne solutions, from ISR and AEW&C roles to medevac and humanitarian missions.
This ninth delivery does not close the chapter but rather extends it, showing that the United States intends to keep enhancing its airborne communications architecture. In the current strategic environment, where interoperability with allies is as important as internal coordination, BACN remains a critical enabler. The Global airframe, adapted for this mission, embodies how civilian technology can be repurposed into a strategic military tool, bridging the gap between operational need and industrial capability.
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The U.S. Air Force has taken delivery of its ninth Bombardier Global aircraft configured for the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) program. The jet strengthens the military’s ability to connect communication systems in combat zones, boosting situational awareness and coordination.
Bombardier Defense confirmed the delivery of the ninth Global aircraft to the U.S. Air Force’s Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) program during a ceremony at Hanscom Air Force Base in Massachusetts on September 10, 2025. The E-11A aircraft, often called “Wi-Fi in the sky,” provides a secure, high-altitude relay that connects incompatible communication systems. It matters because the platform enhances command-and-control effectiveness in contested environments, directly supporting U.S. and allied operations.
The E-11A, derived from the Bombardier Global platform, provides the U.S. Air Force with a long-range, high-altitude aircraft optimized to host advanced communication and electronic systems (Picture source: Bombardier)
The Bombardier Global series, from which the E-11A is derived, is known in the civilian sector as a long-range business jet, recognized for speed, endurance, and reliability. For military applications, this proven airframe offers a stable, high-altitude platform capable of accommodating advanced electronics. In its civilian form, the Global 6000 measures 30.3 meters in length, with a wingspan of 28.7 meters and a height of 7.8 meters. It is powered by two Rolls-Royce BR710A2-20 turbofan engines delivering more than 14,750 pounds of thrust each, allowing the aircraft to cruise at Mach 0.85 with a service ceiling of 51,000 feet. Its fuel tanks can carry about 45,000 pounds of fuel, enabling intercontinental flights of up to 6,000 nautical miles, or roughly 11,100 kilometers. In operational service with the USAF, the E-11A routinely sustains missions exceeding 12 hours, flying long orbits over contested terrain.
The choice of the Global platform reflects the need for a combination of endurance, speed, and internal volume. Unlike larger command aircraft such as the E-3 AWACS, the E-11A can operate from smaller runways, deploy quickly to distant theaters, and remain on station for extended durations with lower operating costs. In its BACN configuration, instead of the usual VIP interiors, the fuselage has been modified to house racks of communications equipment, antenna arrays and processing nodes. This transforms the Global into a flying communications hub, with crews operating consoles dedicated to managing the flow of tactical data across multiple networks.
The communications architecture on board the BACN aircraft allows seamless translation between different tactical data links and radio frequencies. This is crucial in modern joint operations, where ground units, air assets and command centers often rely on incompatible systems. The platform enables secure voice, video and data transfer in real time, bridging communication gaps created by terrain, distance or incompatible waveforms. By orbiting over mountainous areas such as Afghanistan’s rugged landscape, BACN has proven its worth as a reliable means to connect forward-deployed units with higher headquarters.
From a technical standpoint, the USAF’s E-11A fleet is limited in size but highly specialized. Each aircraft is fitted with multiple line-of-sight and beyond-line-of-sight systems, including satellite communications. The system architecture includes integration with Link 16 and other tactical data standards, ensuring interoperability not only between branches of the U.S. military but also with allied forces. While the airframe itself is unarmed, its operational value lies in enhancing the effectiveness of combat platforms by ensuring they can share targeting information, threat data and command instructions without delay.
The tactical and operational impact of the BACN program has been demonstrated in multiple theaters. By enabling communications across different altitudes, terrains and force structures, the E-11A effectively reduces friction in command and control. It allows strike aircraft, surveillance drones, and ground commanders to coordinate even when separated by obstacles that would traditionally block radio transmissions. This enhances situational awareness and accelerates decision-making cycles. In modern warfare, where speed of information often determines the outcome of engagements, such a capability can be decisive.
The geopolitical context of this delivery is equally noteworthy. The U.S. Air Force has invested heavily in connectivity solutions to maintain information dominance in contested environments. The expansion of the BACN fleet comes at a time when peer adversaries are developing electronic warfare tools designed to disrupt command networks. Ensuring robust, flexible and redundant communication systems is therefore a strategic priority. For Bombardier, the successful integration of its business jet platform into such a sensitive military program demonstrates how private industry can adapt civilian aerospace products for defense needs. This model of cooperation reflects a broader trend in which air forces turn to commercially derived platforms for specialized missions, reducing costs while retaining high performance.
The delivery of the ninth aircraft strengthens a partnership that has now lasted nearly two decades. Since the first E-11A entered service, the type has been continuously deployed in overseas operations. Its nickname, “Wi-Fi in the sky,” captures the essence of its mission: to connect the disconnected, ensuring that every unit, regardless of terrain or distance, remains part of the operational picture. The continuation of this program signals that the U.S. Air Force considers airborne communication gateways indispensable for both current missions and future conflicts.
With this new addition, the fleet gains greater resilience, allowing for maintenance rotations while sustaining continuous availability for global deployments. Bombardier Defense, headquartered in Wichita with facilities across North America, continues to provide maintenance and technical support. For the company, the BACN contract reinforces its positioning as a reliable partner for governments seeking tailored airborne solutions, from ISR and AEW&C roles to medevac and humanitarian missions.
This ninth delivery does not close the chapter but rather extends it, showing that the United States intends to keep enhancing its airborne communications architecture. In the current strategic environment, where interoperability with allies is as important as internal coordination, BACN remains a critical enabler. The Global airframe, adapted for this mission, embodies how civilian technology can be repurposed into a strategic military tool, bridging the gap between operational need and industrial capability.
