Northrop wins Air Force contract for airborne comms node

The Air Force has awarded Northrop Grumman a $20 million contract modification to add beyond-line-of-sight command and control capabilities to the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) information gateway system, the company said Sept. 24.

The high-altitude BACN system furnishes situational awareness and command and control coordination between warfighters by bridging and extending voice communications and battlespace information from numerous sources. Through the airborne node, warfighters can get access to full-motion video, imagery, voice over IP and chat messages from multiple sources.

The scope of work calls for Northrop to integrate the Multi-Role Tactical Common Data Link and associated control terminals with the BACN suite of computers and radio systems aboard one of three BACN-equipped E-11A Bombardier Global Express BD-700 aircraft platforms.

The company also will support beyond-line-of-sight command and control developmental and operational testing.