Air Force extends BACN comms contract

The Air Force has added $145 million to an existing contract with Northrop Grumman, asking the aerospace firm to provide additional Battlefield Airborne Communication Node communications capabilities to military aircraft.

The company will provide payload operations and support for the BACN's Joint Urgent Operational Need system, according to reports.

BACN uses Global Hawk UAVs to serve as communications nodes, allowing transmissions in rugged terrain where mountains disrupt line-of-sight signals.

Work under the new add-on is expected to be complete by June 2016.

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