AIRBORNE WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NODE, AIRBORNE WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORK AND METHOD OF PROVIDING WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SERVICES

Embodiments of an airborne wireless communication node are provided herein. The airborne wireless communication node includes an airborne fleet comprising a plurality of airborne platforms having flight control electronics configured to control flight of individual airborne platforms and coordinate a flight plan of the airborne fleet as a whole. Additionally, the airborne wireless communication node includes a distributed communication payload. The communication payload is subdivided into constituent parts. The parts are distributed and positioned on respective ones of the plurality of airborne platforms. The distributed communication payload includes air-to-user link equipment to provide communication links with end-users, the air-to-user link equipment further includes an RF antenna. Further, the distributed communication payload includes air-to-air link equipment to provide communications between individual airborne platforms and payload control electronics to control the air-to-user and air-to-air link equipment and managing communication services.