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In reply to the discussion: CIA chief 'behind Soleimani's assassination' killed in downed plane in Afghanistan [View all]hack89
(39,171 posts)18. I call bull shit
the plane is a communications relay plane - the system it carries is called Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN). They are a common sight in Afghanstan.
It would not be flying a CIA station head around. It is not a transport plane. Plus the CIA has a fleet of jets of their own.
BACN was deployed on a test platform Bombardier BD-700 and originally designated as the RC-700A under the reconnaissance classification. The aircraft was later re-designated as the E-11A under the special electronics installation category.[12] The BD-700 was selected due to its high service ceiling (up to 51,000 ft) and flight duration (up to 12 hours). These flight characteristics are critical in providing unified datalink and voice networks in the mountainous terrain encountered in the current theater of operations. Additional E-11As have been deployed to increase availability and flexibility. These have been used in operations in Afghanistan.[13]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battlefield_Airborne_Communications_Node
The Air Force has a total of four E-11As, including the one that has now crashed. These planes are based on the Bombardier BD-700 Global Express business jet, which are forward-deployed in Afghanistan assigned to the 430th Expeditionary Electronic Combat Squadron at Kandahar Airfield.
These aircraft carry the Battlefield Airborne Control Node (BACN) payload, which allows them to act as highly specialized aerial communications nodes that can rapidly shift information to and from a wide variety of airborne platforms and forces on the ground. There are also three EQ-4B Global Hawk drones that carry the BACN package.
These aircraft carry the Battlefield Airborne Control Node (BACN) payload, which allows them to act as highly specialized aerial communications nodes that can rapidly shift information to and from a wide variety of airborne platforms and forces on the ground. There are also three EQ-4B Global Hawk drones that carry the BACN package.
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/31969/highly-specialized-air-force-e-11a-communications-aircraft-crashes-and-burns-in-afghanistan
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CIA chief 'behind Soleimani's assassination' killed in downed plane in Afghanistan [View all]
True_Blue
Jan 2020
OP
Why haven't we heard anything on this from trump admin - inquiring minds want to know.
iluvtennis
Jan 2020
#5
tRump probably couldn't get on the phone fast enough to his love putin to spill the beans. nt
yaesu
Jan 2020
#12
Did Russia get info from Trump or on their own and pass it on to the Taliban in order to target ...
Botany
Jan 2020
#27
That was my first thought. Not enough corroboration/details yet, but seems likely. nt
crickets
Jan 2020
#48
How convenient...Was there anything this guy knew that needed to stay under wraps?
Perseus
Jan 2020
#39