Letter to Deborah Lee James, Secretary of the Airforce - Battlefield Airborne Communication Node

Letter

Mrs. Deborah Lee James
Secretary of the Air Force
1670 Air Force Pentagon
Washington, DC 20330-1670
Dear Secretary James:

The Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) has provided critical communications capabilities for U.S. forces deployed in Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO). I urge you to retain funding for BACN in the forthcoming Fiscal Year 2015 OCO request. I also urge you to include BACN funding in the FY16 base budget request, making BACN a program of record and retaining the BACN capability for future operations.

BACN was designed in response to a joint urgent operational needs (JUON) requirement, but it will remain an important capability in future contingencies. As General Hostage, the Commander of Air Combat Command has said, "The BACN capability remains an enduring requirement for a high-altitude communications gateway capability today and post-JUON." Indeed, last October at the direction of LTG Hestermann, Commander of Air Force Central Command, BACN began performing missions in the Arabian Gulf. Other BACN missions are likely to emerge in any future operation that requires extended-range communications, command and control, or situational awareness. Particularly in remote geographic regions that lack sufficient communications infrastructure, BACN provides excellent communications capabilities at relatively low cost.

Two platforms carry the BACN capability. The E-11A manned platform currently resides in an expeditionary squadron operated overseas via ACC staff. The EQ-4B is an unmanned Global Hawk Block 20 aircraft operated by the 69th Reconnaissance Group at Grand Forks Air Force Base. Both platforms provide value to the Air Force. The EQ-4B offers BACN capability at negligible marginal costs because it can use existing Global Hawk Block 30 and Block 40 infrastructure, pilots and maintenance personnel. The EQ-4B fleet size is limited to 3 aircraft, however, meaning that the four aircraft in the E-11A fleet are still required to fill out the mission.

In recognition of the enduring need for the BACN capability, the Air Force should make BACN permanent, including moving it to the base budget in FY16 and moving the E-11A fleet from its existing expeditionary squadron to the 69th Reconnaissance Group alongside the EQ-4B. This can be done using existing facilities at Grand Forks Air Force Base, minimizing costs while retaining critical capabilities. In addition, Grand Forks Air Force Base already hosts the Global Hawk Block 40 and is preparing to lease additional space at the base for contractor operations. Thus there is an opportunity to transfer BACN-related contractor activities to Grand Forks at minimal expense.

As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I stand ready to work with you to make these changes and ensure the Air Force can use the BACN capability for years to come. I have asked my staff to schedule a time to meet with you to follow up on this request. Thank you for your attention to this matter and for your continued commitment to the men and women of the U.S. Air Force.

Sincerely,

/s/

John Hoeven
U.S. Senator

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