[Satellite TODAY 09-24-12] Northrop Grumman has won a new contract worth $20 million with the U.S. Air Force, the company announced Sept. 24. The U.S. Air Force awarded the company a contract modification to add beyond-line-of-sight command and control (BLOS C2) capabilities to the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) information gateway system, giving warfighters access to full-motion video, imagery, voice over Internet protocol and chat messages from multiple sources.
   Under the contract, Northrop Grumman will integrate Multi-Role Tactical Common Data Link and associated control terminals with the BACN suite of computers and radio systems aboard one of three BACN-equipped E-11A Bombardier Global Express BD-700 aircraft platforms.
   BACN is part of the Air Force’s development of a BLOS C2 architecture to meet U.S. Central Command requirements, essentially creating a wireless Internet over the battlefield. The company will also support government-sponsored BLOS C2 developmental and operational testing.