US Army gets first Global 6500 aircraft for HADES programme
The Bombardier Global 6500 aircraft delivered to the US Army in support of the HADES programme. (Photo: Bombardier Defense)
The Global 6500 fixed-wing platform will help the US Army modernise its Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) fleet by 2030.
Bombardier Defense has confirmed the delivery of the first Bombardier Global 6500 aircraft to the US Army. It will be used in support of its High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES) programme.
The company said this first prototype platform would strengthen the US Army’s aerial deep sensing abilities and was a milestone towards the Army’s goal of updating its ISR fleet.
Bombardier said the Global 6500 had a maximum endurance of up to 18 hours and up to 750 hours between maintenance intervals.
Andrew Evans, director – HQDA G-2 ISR Task Force, said: “HADES is the centrepiece 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.”
The US Army awarded the contract for the first Global 6500 to Bombardier in December 2023, with options for two more contracts over three years.
The Sierra Nevada Corporation won the contract as the lead system integrator for the HADES programme in August 2024 in a 12-year programme reportedly worth up to US$994.3 million. That programme would incorporate deep sensing technologies on the Bombardier Global 6500 jet as part of its transformation into an ISR platform.
At the time, Col. Joe S. Minor, project manager for US Army fixed-wing aircraft, said that deep sensing was “the Army’s number one operational imperative for the Army of 2030”.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![Trump’s drone directives win US industry support but questions remain over ability to challenge Chinese market dominance]()
Trump’s drone directives win US industry support but questions remain over ability to challenge Chinese market dominance
New presidential directives for UAV production are intended to remove bureaucratic barriers and support suppliers.
-
![Enhancing education: How CAE is embracing new technology to boost military training]()
Enhancing education: How CAE is embracing new technology to boost military training
In Conversation... Shephard's Gerrard Cowan talks to CAE's Marc-Olivier Sabourin about how the training and simulation industry can help militaries achieve essential levels of readiness by leveraging new technology, innovative procurement methods and a truly collaborative approach.
-
![Paris Air Show 2025: New capabilities, partnerships and next-gen programmes remain priority for industry]()
Paris Air Show 2025: New capabilities, partnerships and next-gen programmes remain priority for industry
As European countries increase their defence budgets, the Paris Air Show will look to how the aerospace industry’s responds, with programme progression, new technology and industrial partnerships all expected to take centre stage at Le Bourget.
-
![Paris Air Show 2025: Airbus Helicopters unveils new crewed-uncrewed teaming solution]()
Paris Air Show 2025: Airbus Helicopters unveils new crewed-uncrewed teaming solution
The solution, named HTeaming, has already been tested in flight with a Spanish Navy H135 helicopter and an Airbus Flexrotor uncrewed aerial system (UAS).
