Bombardier confirms key Global 6000 aircraft deal with U.S. Air Force

Bombardier confirmed an important agreement on June 2 between its Learjet Inc. subsidiary and the U.S. Air Force in support of the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) program.

The Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract provides the USAF with flexible ordering and includes an immediate firm order for one Global 6000 aircraft, with as many as five additional Global 6000 aircraft. The contract, which includes engineering and modification work, represents a potential total value of close to U.S.$465 million.

Bombardier has already delivered four Global aircraft to the U.S. Air Force since 2007 for the BACN program, an airborne relay that extends communication ranges, bridges between radio frequencies and “translates” among incompatible communications systems. BACN aircraft are known in the U.S. Air Force as the E-11A.

The deal has important implications for two of Bombardier’s prominent U.S. facilities. Engineers and technicians at the Specialized Aircraft’s Center of Excellence in Wichita, Kansas will modify the Global platform to support the communications equipment required for the BACN aircraft mission, while teams in Tucson, Arizona will provide the aircraft’s interior and eventually perform the exterior painting work.

Bombardier is a major employer in the U.S. aviation sector and works with local colleges and technical schools to help inspire and train the next generation of aerospace professionals.