What Are the Capabilities of the E-11A Aircraft in Modern Warfare?

The E-11A Battlefield Airborne Communications Node, or “BACN,” is one of the least understood and more elusive aircraft on the battlefield. It is also an aircraft that was one of the most highly demanded in the fleet. In fact, aircrews never even saw the aircraft until they arrived on location overseas because every example of the Bombardier Global Express manned aircraft were located overseas. In fact, the fleet was exclusively overseas for the better part of a decade before finally calling Warner-Robins Air Force Base home. 

The E-11A BACN has been termed the ‘WiFi in the sky,’ and indeed, it plays that role. It is the tactical data superstar that everyone wants in the AOR. Let’s find out why. 

Overview of the E-11A Aircraft

The E-11A is a modified Bombardier Global Express 6000/BD-700-1A10 business jet used by the US Air Force to support battlefield communications for forward-deployed forces. The demand for this aircraft was so high that it stayed permanently deployed for years on end, only coming stateside for extended maintenance.

It is equipped with a Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) payload to provide extended aerial command and control capabilities to aerial assets and ground-based troops. The E-11A provides joint range extension, BLOS C2, and Internet protocol-based data transfer between dissimilar systems. This is exactly why it was called the WiFi in the sky; it was very literally an internet repeater for troops in the field. 

It was fielded to meet an urgent operational need for BLOS relay between ground troops and other airborne platforms. This was the second part of the job for the BACN: creating a conduit between ground troops and aerial assets, and from one aerial assets to another since many of the systems used between tactical aircraft cannot talk to each other. 

Design and Features

The E-11A is based on the Bombardier Global platform, and is modified to accommodate the installation of communications equipment to support the mission requirements of the US Air Force. The Air Force needed a jet that could fly at high altitudes and loiter for many hours on end. The Air Force has jets that can do this, all of which are much larger than a business jet and require large aircrews to do comparable work. 

It is true and should be stated that there are no other jets that do exactly what the combined BACN fleet does, mostly because the BACN is leveraging technologies that didn’t exist even at the outset of Operation Enduring Freedom. The closest aircraft in terms of mission cost many times what the Global 6000 does to operate, and are generally much more maintenance intensive. A single BACN system aircraft packs more capability into a smaller aircraft with only a crew of two than the electronic warfare aircraft of the past generation

  • The E-11A provides additional cabin space to accommodate mission equipment and transport belongings of the crew. This is a nice to have situation because the crew of two routinely fly sorties that are many hours long, loitering in the same area for the entire mission. 
  • The aircraft serves as a high-altitude communication relay platform that translates and distributes imagery, voice and tactical data among incompatible communications systems.

Avionics and Performance

Alright, so let’s talk about performance. The E-11A BACN is basically a commercial, off the shelf Bombardier Global 6000 so it includes the standard high-end avionics suite. 

  • The avionics suite onboard the E-11A includes a Bombardier Vision flight deck with four large displays.
  • The flight deck also incorporates a head-up display with enhanced and synthetic vision.
  • A MultiScan weather radar improves situational awareness by automatically detecting and analyzing weather phenomena.
  • Communication data link systems include a Controller Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC) system and a high-speed satellite communication (SATCOM) system.

History and Development

The E-11A program marked a strategic collaboration between Bombardier and the United States Air Force (USAF). For this application, it made much more sense to utilize an aircraft already commonly available rather than design a completely original aircraft for this project, or to update a much larger and far more costly airframe like the EC-130 or E-8 JSTARs. 

The E-11A was adapted to serve as the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN), a critical role in facilitating communication between disparate elements on the battlefield, and the first previously leased aircraft was delivered to the US Air Force in 2008.

Operational Use

The E-11A is operated by the USAF’s 430th Expeditionary Electronic Communications Squadron, which is responsible for providing communication coverage to ground and air forces in active combat zones. This is located at Warner-Robins Air Force Base in Georgia, and it is the first CONUS location where the BACN fleet has ever operated or spent any significant time on location. While not a direct replacement for the E-8 JSTARS, the Airborne Communications Node BACN aircraft have effectively taken over the role and the JSTARS have commenced retirement. 

The aircraft is used to support battlefield communications for forward-deployed forces, providing joint range extension, BLOS C2, and Internet protocol-based data transfer between dissimilar systems. This was a technology that was not adequately provided by any existing legacy airborne communications fleet, so the BACN was born. 

The E-11A has been used in various combat zones, including Afghanistan, and has played a critical role in facilitating communication between ground troops and other airborne platforms.

Sustainment and Maintenance

Ensuring the longevity and operational readiness of the E-11A fleet requires a robust aircraft sustainment strategy. Greenwood Aerospace is committed to the effective and efficient sustainment of the E-11A BACN fleet. 

The US Air Force has awarded contracts to various companies, including Northrop Grumman, to provide maintenance and logistics support for the E-11A aircraft. As with most other commercially adapted aircraft, maintenance and logistics for the BACN fleet will be handled by contract service providers. 

Future of the E-11A

The E-11A is expected to continue playing a critical role in modern warfare, providing battlefield communications for forward-deployed forces. The USAF is playing the long game with BACN, retiring legacy aircraft that support obsolete missions. 

The US Air Force has ordered additional E-11A aircraft to support the BACN program, and the aircraft is expected to remain in service for many years to come. The E-11A is also expected to undergo various upgrades and modernization efforts to ensure it remains relevant in the face of evolving threats and technologies. At its core, it is still a commercial available aircraft meaning it has a robust logistics chain at its disposal. 

Comparison to Other Aircraft

The E-11A is a unique aircraft that provides a critical capability to the US Air Force, but it can be compared to other aircraft that provide similar capabilities, such as the RQ-4B Global Hawk. However, it has a larger payload and is a more versatile and robust platform for updates down the line.

The E-11A has a number of advantages over other aircraft, including its ability to provide joint range extension, BLOS C2, and Internet protocol-based data transfer between dissimilar systems. These are technologies that had no platform up until the BACN. 

Courtesy: MAG Aerospace/L3Harris

The Bombardier Challenger Platforms 

Bombardier Defense is a large player in the defense market and their star is still rising. The Army is using the Challenger 650 as a replacement for the RC-12X Guardrail which will finally be put out to pasture once the ARTEMIS program is fully online and implemented. 

Modern business jets like the Challenger 650 and the Global 6000 are much more efficient, highly reliable, and they are readily available as a commercial off-the-shelf acquisition. The Challenger 650 has a 4,000nm range, which is well over double that of the RC-12X. It also cruises at 10,000’-15,000’ higher altitudes, which allows it to perform deep sensing and cover a much larger area.

Challenges and Limitations

The E-11A faces a number of challenges and limitations, including the need to operate in a contested environment and the requirement to provide communication coverage to ground and air forces in active combat zones. For this it relies on its ability to operate extremely high, up to FL510. Between this and a high cruise speed, the E-11A is able to largely stay out of harm's way. 

The aircraft also faces challenges related to sustainment and maintenance, including the need to ensure the longevity and operational readiness of the fleet. This isn’t altogether unique or anything; all aircraft face this problem. Thankfully, it is built on a common aircraft so parts availability and sustainment are not a challenge. 

Greenwood Aerospace’s Commitment to E-11A BACN Sustainment

Greenwood Aerospace is wholly committed to the BACN mission, and the Air Force in general. We are your sustainment professionals to create and maintain a robust supply chain for the fleet. Our services have helped keep hundreds of other military aircraft and government aircraft in the air with high mission capability rates, and we will apply our expertise to the E-11 fleet, too. 

Give us a call at (580) 762-2580, or email us at contact@governmentprocurement.com. If you know what service you want to get started with, you can also request a quote!