Northrop Grumman Will Continue to Support Global Hawk UAVs

By Caroline Rees / 25 Jul 2012

Smart Sourcing for Unmanned Systems

Discover cutting-edge solutions from leading global suppliers
SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT
Follow UST

The Global Hawk UAV

Further details have been released about the Northrop Grumman contract extension with the U.S. Air Force. The U.S. Air Force has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation two contract modifications totaling $156 million to continue operating and maintaining the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) system in support of overseas contingency missions.

Northrop Grumman was awarded a $106 million contract modification to extend the deployment and operation of BACN payloads installed in three E-11A Bombardier Global Express BD-700 aircraft and three EQ-4B Block 20 Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles. The award supports operations through June 2013.

The company was also awarded a $50 million contract modification for platform maintenance support of three E-11A aircraft – numbers 9355, 9358 and 9001 – through February 2013.

BACN is a high-altitude, airborne communications and information gateway system that provides situational awareness and command and control coordination between warfighters and commanders. With a suite of computers and radio systems, BACN bridges and extends voice communications and battlespace information from numerous sources.

“BACN is making a tremendous difference for our warfighters. These awards are evidence of that invaluable support and the exceptional performance of the BACN program office,” said Claude Hashem, vice president of network communications systems for Northrop Grumman Information Systems.

BACN was first deployed to support Operation Enduring Freedom in 2008.

Northrop Grumman is the prime contractor for the EQ-4B Global Hawk aircraft and the development, fielding and maintenance of the BACN system. The company was awarded the first BACN contract in April 2005 by the Air Force Electronic Systems Center, Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass.

Posted by Caroline Rees Caroline co-founded Unmanned Systems Technology and has been at the forefront of the business ever since. With a Masters Degree in marketing Caroline has her finger on the pulse of all things unmanned and is committed to showcasing the very latest in unmanned technical innovation. Connect & Contact

Latest Articles

Evolito to Develop Electric Propulsion System in New Aerospace Collaboration

Evolito and VÆRIDION have partnered to develop electric propulsion technology for the Microliner aircraft, aiming to deliver improved propulsion efficiency and operational safety

Jun 19, 2025
New GA-ASI Collaboration Enhances AEW Capability on MQ-9B Platform

General Atomics and Saab are collaborating to equip the MQ-9B unmanned aircraft with advanced AEW&C capabilities, expanding cost-effective aerial surveillance options

Jun 19, 2025
Gremsy and UPTEKO Announce Progress in Next-Gen UAV Imaging Systems

Following the signing of an MoU, Gremsy and UPTEKO unveil key milestones in developing next-gen UAV imaging systems, demonstrating rapid progress in their strategic collaboration

Jun 19, 2025
Exail Showcases Integrated USV & AUV Operations in Collaborative Trial

Exail’s DriX USV and Ifremer’s Ulyx AUV were jointly deployed for the first time, demonstrating advanced cooperative capabilities in deep-sea exploration

Jun 19, 2025
Advantages of the F15 UAV for Oil & Gas Inspections

ZIYAN’s F15 Industry Flagship Edition provides a reliable UAV solution for oil and gas inspections, addressing harsh environments and complex operational demands with precision

Jun 19, 2025
ParaZero Showcases DropAir & DefendAir Systems at U.S. Security Event

ParaZero participated in live demonstrations at the Constellis Security Conference in Virginia, highlighting its DropAir supply delivery system and DefendAir counter-UAS technology to U.S. and international security representatives

Jun 19, 2025

Featured Content

HBK Updates RTK Service for Precise Positioning in Autonomous Systems

HBK has updated its SensorCloud RTK service, integrating with MicroStrain by HBK navigation systems to provide centimeter-level accuracy and simplified deployment for autonomous systems

Jun 17, 2025
MEMS DC Accelerometers from SDI Deliver Superior Performance for Unmanned Systems

SDI's MEMS DC accelerometers offer a robust solution for unmanned aerial, ground, and underwater vehicles, providing precise static and dynamic motion sensing, crucial for autonomous navigation, attitude feedback, and structural monitoring

Jun 12, 2025
Calian GNSS Unveils New Anti-Jamming CRPA with XF+ Filtering

Calian GNSS has introduced the CR8894SXF+, a compact CRPA antenna with in-band null forming and XF+ filtering for resilient GNSS performance in interference-prone environments

Jun 06, 2025
Advancing Unmanned Systems Through Strategic Collaboration UST works with major OEMs to foster collaboration and increase engagement with SMEs, to accelerate innovation and drive unmanned systems capabilities forward.