Global 6500: Bombardier has delivered the first Global 6500 aircraft to the US Army under the High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES) program. This program aims to upgrade the Army’s aerial deep sensing capabilities using advanced Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) technology.
Andrew Evans, Director of the HQDA G-2 ISR Task Force, emphasized that the Global 6500 plays a key role in achieving the program’s goals during the handover ceremony held in Wichita, Kansas. The event was attended by US Senator Jerry Moran, who noted the aircraft’s importance in advancing military aviation capabilities while reinforcing Kansas’ reputation in defense manufacturing.
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In August, the Army selected Sierra Nevada Corporation to manage systems integration for the program with a $93.5 million contract. However, this decision was contested by L3Harris.
Global 6500: High-Performance Platform for Army Operations
Steve Patrick, Vice President at Bombardier, highlighted the Global 6500 as a “high-performance platform” ideal for supporting future Army operations. The aircraft is designed for deep-sensing tasks, offering exceptional speed, endurance, and altitude capabilities.
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With a maximum endurance of 18 hours, the Global 6500 can fly continuously for extended periods and operate for up to 750 flight hours before requiring maintenance. It shares many features with other Global models, known for their impressive 99.83 percent dispatch reliability, making it a dependable choice for missions like ISR, medical evacuations, and maritime surveillance.
“We are proud of the partnership with Bombardier Defense and the mission-focused professionals in the State of Kansas. We remain excited about the opportunities we can unlock by pairing the performance, versatility and reliability of the Global 6500 with modern payloads aligned to priority intelligence requirements. HADES is the centerpiece of the Army’s collection strategy, and the Global 6500 is the system that brings that strategy to life. This aircraft gives us the range, payload capacity, speed and endurance to deliver timely, relevant and responsive capabilities for the full spectrum of Army and Joint collection requirements.” – Andrew Evans, Director, HQDA G-2 ISR Task Force
Powered by Rolls-Royce Pearl engines, the Global 6500 can reach speeds of up to Mach 0.9, with a range of 6,600 nautical miles and an altitude capability of 51,000 feet (15,545 meters).
