'BACN HAWKS' COULD DEPLOY BY NEXT FALL, SPARK MORE GH FUNDING DEBATE: Two Northrop Grumman Block 20 Global Hawks are under contract for modifications to carry BACN communications relay suites into combat as early as next fall, offering more good news from the successful family of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) that some recently have targeted for funding cuts, company executives said. "What we're seeing with BACN [pronounced 'bacon' for Battlefield Airborne Communications Node] and with the Block 30s will raise the importance and really add to the debate on requirements...and the urgent needs," George Guerra, vice president for HALE systems at Northrop Grumman, told Defense Daily last week during an interview at the Air Force Association annual symposium at National Harbor.



Block 30 Global Hawks are coming down the production line, with three or four of the SIGINT-equipped aircraft headed for Guam next summer and another three or four bound for Sigonella, Italy next fall. Guerra said the decision of the House would essentially have Northrop Grumman and its 335 suppliers develop and build six Block 40s, then shut everything down for two years. "It doesn't make much sense...and there would be a big economic impact on industry, with many of the smaller suppliers going out of business." However, the warfighters know what they want and they have spoken up well, Guerra said. "The Senate supports the president's budget that keeps the Block 40s intact...and we have the Joint Staff on board." In the meantime, as the budgets get sorted out, Northrop Grumman is hoping every Global Hawk development proves an opportunity to raise awareness and helps steer the debate in its favor. (Defense Daily, 09/23)