asAviation Week reveals more details of the tech behind the raid on Bin Ladens compound. We all knew UAS were part of the mission, now some more detail is trickling out.

By David A. Fulghum Aviation Week

Northrop Grumman officials indicated that two Block 20 Global Hawk UAVs — both with the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) — had been involved in classified operations in Afghanistan.

BACN is used by manned and unmanned aircraft flying at extremely high altitudes to allow real-time information exchanges between dissimilar tactical data-link systems and provide decision-makers with critical information. Also, it enables voice relay and bridging between tactical voice systems both in line-of-sight and beyond-line-of-sight situations.

In particular, due to the Global Hawk’s operational altitude, BACN enabled ground troops to overcome communications difficulties caused by complex, mountainous terrain and range. All of those capabilities fit the bin Laden raid requirements perfectly. The two UAVs are part of a fleet that includes three manned Bombardier Global Express aircraft.

Other defense sources indicate that the Block 20 Global Hawk — aided by the long-range communications link — also transferred real-time intelligence for the classified RQ-170 Sentinel, which used its full-motion video capability to capture the human activity patterns.

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