Northrop Grumman has been awarded a firm-fixed-price contract for the purchase of Global Express aircraft BD-700-1A10 and two engines installed on the aircraft.

The $18.13m contract is for the aircraft, which has been modified to perform battlefield airborne communications node (BACN) payload and also includes maintenance of the leased aircraft.

The aircraft and engines will be provided under sublease in support of overseas contingency operations for extension of operations on a more economic basis.

The US ESC/HNAA, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, US, will be the contracting activity.