Armed forces who are modernizing their airborne capabilities aren’t just looking for the best aircraft at the most advantageous cost. They need a mission partner they can rely on, who can not only deliver future-ready solutions on time and on budget, but also provide the engineering expertise to adapt these aircraft to specific mission requirements – all while understanding the operational context and the importance of delivering on time and on budget. Just as importantly, this collaboration should include support and maintenance throughout the life of the mission.
Bombardier is a world-renowned manufacturer of business aircraft, and Bombardier Defense is a longstanding supplier of these aircraft for the U.S. armed forces. Bombardier Defense offers a comprehensive solution and a flexible approach, working in collaboration not only with governments and militaries, but with the mission system providers whose technologies help transform business jets into mission-ready military assets.
Bombardier, a world-renowned manufacturer of business aircraft, generates tens of thousands of jobs across the United States through its 3,500 direct employees and spends over $2.5 Billion with suppliers each year. Bombardier’s American workers are based all around the United States with sites in Kansas, Texas, Arizona, Florida, Connecticut, Illinois, Delaware, California, Washington D.C. and New Jersey.
Mission-driven platforms
Business jets – with their impressive performance characteristics, proven reliability, short-term availability and advantageous operating costs – are an excellent solution for next-generation airborne solutions.
Bombardier aircraft are readily equipped with advanced radars, sensors and payloads and deployed for today’s most strategic missions, including Intelligence, Reconnaissance and Surveillance (ISR), Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) or Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C). Their speed and range allow for expansive global coverage and quick deployment to theaters of operations while reducing reliance on fixed bases or geography. They can be redeployed within hours to new areas of operation or dynamically reassigned to new missions.
Other operations that Bombardier aircraft perform all over the world include maritime patrol, medevac, and strategic government transport. With interiors that are customized and rapidly converted, a single aircraft performs multiple roles.
In the context of rapidly evolving threats and new technologies, Bombardier aircraft are adaptable and practical platforms for defense missions. Their systems can be updated and upgraded, and these specially configured jets can be used to complement emerging platforms including unmanned vehicles.
For governments to ensure the success of such missions, having the right partner is essential.
Proven performance
Bombardier Defense has decades of experience providing Bombardier Challenger and Global aircraft – the world’s top performing business jets – for government and military missions around the world. These aircraft are proven and reliable, having flown thousands of hours in theatre.
One example is the fleet of nine Bombardier Global aircraft in service with the United States Air Force (USAF), as the backbone of the highly successful Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) program. These aircraft, which are known in the Air Force as E-11A and often referred to as “Wi-Fi in the sky”, are a specialized communications platform that enable enhanced situational awareness and interoperability as a high-altitude communications gateway. The Bombardier Global fleet serving the USAF has been performing critical communications missions around the world for close to two decades, serving to bridge voice and tactical data between air and land forces, while surmounting obstacles such as mountains, rough terrain or distance.
Another notable example is the U.S. Army’s High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES) program. The Bombardier Global 6500 aircraft is the chosen platform for next-generation aerial deep sensing capability. The first HADES aircraft was delivered to the U.S. Army last year with more prototypes in the development pipeline that will deploy beginning late this year.
The HADES program represents a generational transformation of Army airborne ISR and a fundamental shift in how the Army collects, processes, and delivers intelligence. The Bombardier Global 6500 aircraft was selected for its combination of altitude, endurance, payload capacity, and open-architecture adaptability.
HADES enables deep sensing at strategic standoff ranges, allowing the Army to detect, identify, and track targets across contested environments without exposing aircrews or aircraft to unnecessary risk. The platform’s endurance and operating ceiling provide persistent coverage over vast areas—supporting multi-domain operations, long-range precision fires, and joint force targeting.
The selection of the Global 6500 aircraft underscores Bombardier Defense’s ability to deliver mission-ready aircraft that meet demanding military requirements, integrate rapidly with advanced mission systems, and scale to evolving threats. With HADES, Bombardier is directly supporting one of the Army’s highest-priority modernization efforts, enabling a leap in sensing capability that aligns with the realities of peer-level competition.
Bombardier not only provides the aircraft for these programs but helps maintain these robust jets to ensure optimal mission performance and reliability.
Bombardier aircraft have plenty of other potential applications for the Armed Forces, including logistics solutions and command and control (C2).
Bombardier Defense is ideally positioned to participate in tomorrow’s solutions, having established solid working relationships with leading defense innovators including L3Harris, SNC, Northrup Grumman, and Saab, among others. These providers of leading-edge technology help transform Bombardier aircraft into future-ready strategic assets.
Tailored solutions and services
Members of the Bombardier Defense team take pride in their flexibility toward each customer and mission. This approach has resulted in successful, long-term relationships with governments and industry partners who can count on Bombardier Defense to adapt its offering to the specific mission requirement within an evolving threat landscape. Rather than a one-size-fits-all solution, Bombardier’s offering can range from supplying the aircraft alone to providing engineering expertise, aircraft modification, data licensing and comprehensive maintenances services.
Bombardier Defense has a deep understanding of how aircraft are employed throughout their service life and how mission requirements evolve over time, with hundreds of specialized aircraft in-service worldwide with over 3 million fleet hours and more than 170 operators in close to 50 countries. Its tailored services leverage Bombardier’s established global aircraft support network of more than 100 locations around the world.
Bombardier’s tailored aircraft support solutions include Smart Services cost-per-flight hour programs, spare parts, and scheduled and unscheduled maintenance. Backed by a global support network of more than 100 locations around the world, customers have access to 24/7 Aircraft on Ground (AOG) and technical assistance through Bombardier’s Customer Response Center, helping ensure maximum aircraft availability and operational readiness. In addition, Bombardier maintains a $1.5B global parts inventory, ensuring customers worldwide have access to components they need.
Bombardier has the OEM expertise to provide the best support for its aircraft, with the specialized expertise to help government customers maintain modified aircraft as required*. Bombardier Smart Services programs provide predictability of maintenance costs, which is particularly useful to government customers who require visibility on long-term budgetary requirements.
Close collaboration in practice
Bombardier Defense offers an ideal combination of top-performing aircraft, engineering expertise, industrial collaboration and a lifetime of support. Its reputation as a trusted partner willing to collaborate and adapt is a difference-maker that cannot be overstated, especially in a world of rapidly evolving requirements. The customer-centric philosophy at Bombardier Defense means not only a tailored solution, but a mission partner who will provide support for as long as the mission requires.
Bombardier, Challenger, Global and Global 6500 are registered or unregistered trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries.
*Services may not be available for all special mission aircraft and modifications.