Bombardier Defense Delivers High-performance Global Aircraft to the U.S. Air Force Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) Program

  • Aircraft delivery is the first as part of an order from the USAF, announced in June 2021, to modify up to six Global 6000 business jets. The 2021 contract, representing a potential total value of close to $465 million U.S., included an immediate firm order for one Global 6000 aircraft with subsequent additional firm orders announced in April 2022
  • Bombardier Global business jets have become a go-to platform for special missions around the world, thanks to their speed, payload capacity, built-in power redundancy, reliability and endurance
Bombardier Defense Delivers High-performance Global Aircraft to the U.S. Air Force Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) Program



Bombardier today announced that its Defense division, along with its U.S. subsidiary Learjet Inc., delivered a Global aircraft in special mission configuration to the U.S. Air Force Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) program based at Hanscom Air Force Base in Massachusetts.

“The defense sector is a key pillar of Bombardier’s future as our ultra-reliable and high-performing platforms are best suited to house and operate complex mission equipment,” said Éric Martel, President and CEO of Bombardier. “We are proud that our jets and know-how are being increasingly recognized around the world in this sphere, and this delivery is a milestone, first of its kind since appointing Wichita as the home base for Bombardier Defense.”

The latest delivery, a Global 6000 aircraft, is the first mission-configured aircraft to be supplied under a contract for up to six modified Global 6000 aircraft, announced in June 2021 and which represents a potential total value of up to $464.8-million USD (the “2021 contract”). Bombardier has already delivered four Global aircraft to the BACN program under previous agreements. Under the 2021 contract, the USAF has confirmed firm orders for three Global 6000 aircraft, with the next two deliveries expected in 2022 and 2023. The USAF has announced its potential to purchase an additional aircraft each year through 2025 under the 2021 contract.

“The BACN program reduces communication issues associated with incompatible systems, adverse terrain, and distance. BACN increases interoperability which results in forces that execute faster, more reliably, and with less risk to the warfighter. The delivery of 21-9045 is the pivotal first step to advancing the mission this program provides.” – Lt Col Eric Inkenbrandt.

As part of the critical BACN program, Bombardier’s Global aircraft serve as high-altitude communications gateways, relaying or bridging voice and data between air and surface forces and handily surmounting traditional obstacles such as mountains, rough terrain or distance. Dubbed “Wi-Fi in the sky” by the USAF, BACN-equipped Global aircraft are referred to as the E-11A fleet.

“We are proud to be able to showcase the versatility of our Global business jets and our expertise here in the U.S. to support the type of high-altitude, endurance missions required by the elite BACN program,” said Steve Patrick, Vice President, Bombardier Defense. “Our best-in-class Global aircraft platform offers the complete package--proven reliability, significant payload capacity, ample available power, and the highest degree of stability to support sensitive equipment. This, along with top notch design, manufacturing and certification expertise required to carry out modifications makes Bombardier Global aircraft the optimal choice for conversion to specialized assets.”

In April 2022, Bombardier designated its Wichita site as its new U.S. Headquarters and launched Bombardier Defense as strategic expansion of its existing Specialized Aircraft division.

Engineers and technicians at Bombardier Defense in Wichita, Kansas perform the complex engineering and modification work on green Global 6000 aircraft to support the BACN installation, while teams at the Bombardier site in Tucson, Arizona complete the interiors and perform the exterior painting work.

More than 550 Bombardier Global, Challenger and Learjet business aircraft are currently performing specialized missions worldwide, from securing airspace, borders and infrastructure to head-of-state transport and humanitarian assistance including long-range medical evacuations.

Forward-looking Statements
Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements based on current expectations, including, without limitation, statements relating to future deliveries and orders of aircraft and total realizable contract value. By their nature, forward-looking statements require us to make assumptions and are subject to important known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause our actual results in future periods to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Please refer to our note on “Forward-Looking Statements” contained in our latest published quarterly report.

About Bombardier
Bombardier is a global leader in aviation, focused on designing, manufacturing, and servicing the world's most exceptional business jets. Bombardier’s Challenger and Global aircraft families are renowned for their cutting-edge innovation, cabin design, performance, and reliability. Bombardier has a worldwide fleet of approximately 5,000 aircraft in service with a wide variety of multinational corporations, charter and fractional ownership providers, governments, and private individuals. Bombardier aircraft are also trusted around the world in special-mission roles.

Headquartered in Montréal, Québec, Bombardier operates aerostructure, assembly and completion facilities in Canada, the United States and Mexico. The company’s robust customer support network includes facilities in strategic locations in the United States and Canada, as well as in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, the UAE, Singapore, China, and an Australian facility opening in 2022.

For corporate news and information, including Bombardier’s Environmental, Social and Governance report, visit bombardier.com. Learn more about Bombardier’s industry-leading products and customer service network at businessaircraft.bombardier.com. Follow us on Twitter @Bombardier.

For Information
Francis Richer de La Fleche
Vice President, Financial Planning and Investor Relations
Bombardier
+1 514 855 5001 x13228

Mark Masluch
Senior Director, Communications
Bombardier
+1 514 855 7167

Bombardier, Global, Global 6000, Challenger and Learjet are registered or unregistered trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries.