Aeronaves y UAV

Avión E-11A de retransmisión aerotransportada de comunicaciones

Also known as
  • BACN
  • Battlefield Airborne Communications Node
  • E-11A BACN

El E-11A es un reactor ejecutivo Bombardier Global 6000/BD-700 o Global 6500 modificado que la U.S. Air Force usa como Battlefield Airborne Communications Node, o BACN. Retransmite y traduce voz, imágenes, enlaces de datos tácticos y tráfico basado en IP entre redes aéreas, terrestres, marítimas y de coalición que de otro modo serían incompatibles. El tipo entró en combate en Afganistán en 2008, CENTCOM lo incluyó entre los medios de Operation Epic Fury en 2026, y se habían entregado nueve células para septiembre de 2025, incluso cuando la declaración de postura FY2027 de la Air Force preveía su retirada completa en FY2028.

Avión E-11A de retransmisión aerotransportada de comunicaciones, Avión de retransmisión aerotransportada de comunicaciones, Aeronaves y UAV
Image source: Wikimedia Commons: BACN at Kandahar International Airport in 2019

Role in Conflicts

What BACN Changes

El E-11A existe porque las radios tácticas, los enlaces de datos y las redes de mando a menudo no coinciden entre aeronaves, unidades terrestres, fuerzas marítimas y usuarios de coalición. BACN se sitúa sobre el espacio de batalla como una pasarela, traduciendo y retransmitiendo comunicaciones cuando el terreno, la distancia o los sistemas incompatibles romperían de otro modo el contacto.

Carga útil de pasarela

BACN traduce y distribuye imágenes, voz, datos tácticos y tráfico basado en IP entre usuarios disímiles.

Impulso en Afganistán

AFCENT vinculó el empleo inicial de combate de la aeronave con el terreno de Afganistán y la necesidad de extender el alcance de comunicaciones y enlazar sistemas de datos.

Dirección de la flota

Se habían entregado nueve células para septiembre de 2025, pero la declaración de postura FY2027 preveía la retirada completa del E-11A en FY2028.

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Estados Unidos / Canadá
Type
Avión de retransmisión aerotransportada de comunicaciones
Service note
2008-presente
Designed
2007
Produced
2008-present
Number built
9 entregados para septiembre de 2025

Specifications

Plataforma
Reactor ejecutivo Bombardier Global 6000 / BD-700-1A10 o Global 6500 modificado
Misión
Retransmisor y pasarela aerotransportada de comunicaciones a gran altitud
Función de la carga útil
Traduce y distribuye voz, imágenes, enlaces de datos tácticos y datos basados en IP entre redes incompatibles
Techo
51.000 ft
Velocidad
Mach 0.88 para células Global 6000 / BD-700; Mach 0.9 para células Global 6500
Alcance
6.900 millas para células Global 6000 / BD-700; 7.595 millas para células Global 6500
Operadores
Air Combat Command, con apoyo asociado de la Air National Guard
Ubicaciones operativas conocidas
Prince Sultan Air Base, Arabia Saudí; Robins Air Force Base, Georgia
Flota
Nueve aeronaves entregadas para septiembre de 2025; Air & Space Forces enumeró siete en inventario
Estado previsto
La declaración de postura FY2027 del Department of the Air Force preveía la retirada completa en FY2028
Timeline

Avión E-11A de retransmisión aerotransportada de comunicaciones Key Events

  1. Primer vuelo

    El E-11A convertido para BACN voló por primera vez en agosto de 2007.

    Sources: Air & Space Forces E-11A profile

  2. Debut en combate en Afganistán

    Air & Space Forces informa que el E-11A entró en combate en Afganistán en 2008 como retransmisor aerotransportado de comunicaciones.

    Sources: Air & Space Forces E-11A profile

  3. La Air Force compra las células arrendadas

    La Air Force compró las primeras aeronaves arrendadas y formalizó la designación E-11A, trasladando el programa del apoyo arrendado al control del servicio.

    Sources: Air & Space Forces E-11A profile

  4. Robins recibe su primer E-11A

    ACC dijo que el primer E-11A BACN llegó a Robins Air Force Base el 24 de abril de 2023, estableciendo allí un nuevo conjunto de misiones.

    Sources: ACC First E-11A BACN arrives at Robins

  5. Novena aeronave entregada

    Air & Space Forces informó que Bombardier entregó el noveno E-11A el 22 de septiembre de 2025.

    Sources: Air & Space Forces E-11A profile

  6. Divulgado el plan de retirada FY2028

    La declaración de postura FY2027 del Department of the Air Force dijo que la Air Force planeaba retirar por completo el E-11A en FY2028, con Hybrid SATCOM Terminal como puente de corto plazo.

    Sources: Department of the Air Force FY2027 posture statement

Media

Avión E-11A de retransmisión aerotransportada de comunicaciones Videos

Avión E-11A de retransmisión aerotransportada de comunicaciones Images

Avión E-11A de retransmisión aerotransportada de comunicaciones, Avión de retransmisión aerotransportada de comunicaciones, Aeronaves y UAV - view 1
Source: Wikimedia Commons: E-11A at Hanscom Air Force Base, June 2021
Avión E-11A de retransmisión aerotransportada de comunicaciones, Avión de retransmisión aerotransportada de comunicaciones, Aeronaves y UAV - view 2
Source: Wikimedia Commons: Bombardier E-11A 11-9001 at Dubai Airshow 2021
Avión E-11A de retransmisión aerotransportada de comunicaciones, Avión de retransmisión aerotransportada de comunicaciones, Aeronaves y UAV - view 3
Source: Wikimedia Commons: E-11A Memorial Flight in CENTCOM AOR
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Sources

ACC BACN Fact SheetPublisher: Air Combat Command | Note: Supports E-11A BACN mission and general system specifications for the airborne communications relay node. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Northrop Grumman BACNPublisher: Northrop Grumman | Note: Supports manufacturer and background context for the E-11A modified Bombardier BD700 communications gateway, including mission count, mission availability, and BACN gateway functions. | Accessed: 2026-07-04CENTCOM Epic Fury Fact SheetPublisher: U.S. Central Command | Note: Supports 2020 United States-Iran Conflict direct use: E-11A communications aircraft used by CENTCOM in Operation Epic Fury against Iran. | Accessed: 2026-07-04AFCENT E-11A 10000th BACN sortiePublisher: U.S. Air Forces Central | Note: Supports 2001 War in Afghanistan direct use: E-11A BACN aircraft operated from Kandahar after arriving in Afghanistan in 2008 and provided communications range extension and data-link bridging. | Accessed: 2026-07-04AFCENT Everything's better with BACNPublisher: U.S. Air Forces Central | Note: Supports 2001 War in Afghanistan direct use: E-11A BACN aircraft operated from Kandahar and enabled command-and-control contact between troops and higher leadership. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Air & Space Forces E-11A profilePublisher: Air & Space Forces Magazine | Note: Supports E-11A service history, specifications, BACN platform history, fleet growth through the 2025 delivery, and 2001 War in Afghanistan direct use: the E-11A entered combat in Afghanistan in 2008. | Accessed: 2026-07-04ACC First E-11A BACN arrives at RobinsPublisher: Air Combat Command | Note: Supports service context for the first E-11A BACN arrival at Robins Air Force Base. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Department of the Air Force FY2027 posture statementPublisher: U.S. House Armed Services Committee | Note: Supports planned E-11A divestment in FY2028 and Hybrid SATCOM Terminal bridge context. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Wikimedia Commons: BACN at Kandahar International Airport in 2019Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Public-domain image provenance for the E-11A BACN aircraft at Kandahar Airfield. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Wikimedia Commons: E-11A at Hanscom Air Force Base, June 2021Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Public-domain image provenance for the E-11A BACN aircraft at Hanscom Air Force Base. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Wikimedia Commons: Bombardier E-11A 11-9001 at Dubai Airshow 2021Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: CC BY-SA image provenance for a Bombardier E-11A at Dubai Airshow 2021. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Wikimedia Commons: E-11A Memorial Flight in CENTCOM AORPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Public-domain image provenance for an E-11A memorial flight in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. | Accessed: 2026-07-04