U.S. Army Selects Bombardier's Global 6500 for Recon Aircraft Prototype

The aircraft will be the Army's first large-cabin business jet used for aerial intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.

Kimberly Johnson

Thursday, January 04, 2024 at 02:03 PM ET

Verified

The U.S. Army awarded a firm-fixed-price contract to Bombardier Defense to buy a Global 6500 business jet for prototyping as an aerial intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance platform. [Courtesy: Bombardier Defense]

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. Army has selected the Bombardier Defense Global 6500 jet for its new High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES) spy plane prototype.
HADES will be the Army's first large-cabin business jet used for aerial intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), replacing the outdated Guardrail Common Sensor turboprop fleet.
The new platform will provide enhanced deep-sensing capabilities, offering increased range, speed, endurance, and higher altitude operation, which is a top Army priority.
The contract includes an initial purchase of one Global 6500 with options for two more, with the first prototype expected to be delivered by October 1.

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The U.S. Army has selected the Bombardier Defense Global 6500 jet as the platform for its new spy plane prototype for the High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System, known as HADES.

The firm-fixed-price contract was awarded to Bombardier on December 12 by the Army Contracting Command-Redstone Arsenal, in coordination with the Army Fixed Wing Project Office, the service announced Wednesday.