Aircraft & UAVs

E-11A airborne communications relay aircraft

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

The E-11A is a modified Bombardier Global 6000/BD-700 or Global 6500 business jet used by the U.S. Air Force as the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node, or BACN. It relays and translates voice, imagery, tactical data links, and IP-based traffic between otherwise incompatible air, ground, maritime, and coalition networks. The type entered combat in Afghanistan in 2008, CENTCOM listed it among Operation Epic Fury assets in 2026, and nine airframes had been delivered by September 2025 even as the Air Force's FY2027 posture statement planned full divestment in FY2028.

E-11A airborne communications relay aircraft, Airborne communications relay aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs
Image source: Wikimedia Commons: BACN at Kandahar International Airport in 2019

Role in Conflicts

What BACN Changes

The E-11A exists because tactical radios, data links, and command networks often do not match across aircraft, ground units, maritime forces, and coalition users. BACN sits above the battlespace as a gateway, translating and relaying communications when terrain, distance, or incompatible systems would otherwise break contact.

Gateway payload

BACN translates and distributes imagery, voice, tactical data, and IP-based traffic between dissimilar users.

Afghanistan driver

AFCENT tied the aircraft's early combat use to Afghanistan's terrain and the need for communications range extension and data-link bridging.

Fleet direction

Nine airframes had been delivered by September 2025, but the FY2027 posture statement planned full E-11A divestment in FY2028.

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
United States / Canada
Type
Airborne communications relay aircraft
Service note
2008-present
Designed
2007
Produced
2008-present
Number built
9 delivered by September 2025

Specifications

Platform
Modified Bombardier Global 6000 / BD-700-1A10 or Global 6500 business jet
Mission
High-altitude airborne communications relay and gateway
Payload function
Translates and distributes voice, imagery, tactical data links, and IP-based data across incompatible networks
Ceiling
51,000 ft
Speed
Mach 0.88 for Global 6000 / BD-700 airframes; Mach 0.9 for Global 6500 airframes
Range
6,900 miles for Global 6000 / BD-700 airframes; 7,595 miles for Global 6500 airframes
Operators
Air Combat Command, with Air National Guard associate support
Known operating locations
Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia; Robins Air Force Base, Georgia
Fleet
Nine aircraft delivered by September 2025; Air & Space Forces listed seven in inventory
Planned status
Department of the Air Force FY2027 posture statement planned full divestment in FY2028
Timeline

E-11A airborne communications relay aircraft Key Events

  1. First flight

    The BACN-converted E-11A first flew in August 2007.

    Sources: Air & Space Forces E-11A profile

  2. Combat debut in Afghanistan

    Air & Space Forces reports the E-11A entered combat in Afghanistan in 2008 as an airborne communications relay.

    Sources: Air & Space Forces E-11A profile

  3. Air Force buys the leased airframes

    The Air Force bought the first leased aircraft and formalized the E-11A designation, moving the program from leased support into service control.

    Sources: Air & Space Forces E-11A profile

  4. Robins receives its first E-11A

    ACC said the first E-11A BACN arrived at Robins Air Force Base on April 24, 2023, establishing a new mission set there.

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

  5. Ninth aircraft delivered

    Air & Space Forces reported that Bombardier delivered the ninth E-11A on Sept. 22, 2025.

    Sources: Air & Space Forces E-11A profile

  6. FY2028 divestment plan disclosed

    The Department of the Air Force FY2027 posture statement said the Air Force planned to fully divest the E-11A in FY2028, with Hybrid SATCOM Terminal as a near-term bridge.

    Sources: Department of the Air Force FY2027 posture statement

Media

E-11A airborne communications relay aircraft Videos

E-11A airborne communications relay aircraft Images

E-11A airborne communications relay aircraft, Airborne communications relay aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs - view 1
Source: Wikimedia Commons: E-11A at Hanscom Air Force Base, June 2021
E-11A airborne communications relay aircraft, Airborne communications relay aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs - view 2
Source: Wikimedia Commons: Bombardier E-11A 11-9001 at Dubai Airshow 2021
E-11A airborne communications relay aircraft, Airborne communications relay aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs - 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