RCAF Selects Bombardier Global 6500 for Multi-Role Future

In a landmark decision underscoring Canada's commitment to strategic and sovereign aerospace capabilities, the Government of Canada has selected the made-in-Canada Bombardier Global 6500 aircraft to bolster the Royal Canadian Air Force’s (RCAF) multi-mission air transport fleet. This significant procurement sees Bombardier providing six of its high-performance Global 6500 jets, a move that promises to enhance the RCAF's capacity for crucial worldwide utility and support missions.

The new aircraft are slated to perform a variety of roles vital to national security and global aid, including aeromedical evacuations, swift disaster relief, essential humanitarian assistance and complex national security operations. The choice of the Canadian-assembled Global 6500 sends a powerful message, directly leveraging and supporting Canada’s world-class aerospace industry and its extensive domestic supply chain.

Bombardier officially announced the major agreement at its Global Aircraft Assembly Centre in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), the very facility where the Global 6500 is assembled. Interior completion work for the military-modified jets will be carried out in Greater Montreal, further distributing the economic benefits across key Canadian aerospace hubs. The value of the order is approximately $400 million U.S. for Bombardier, a figure based on the jet's current list price and the anticipated costs associated with military modification packages.

The RCAF, which has successfully operated the smaller Bombardier Challenger aircraft since 1983, will see a substantial upgrade in both range and overall capability with the introduction of the Global 6500. This aircraft is renowned globally for its performance and reliability, characteristics that make it an ideal platform for demanding defence missions, including Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C), border and maritime patrol, as well as VIP transport. The increased range will be critical for the RCAF's global mandate, particularly in rapid response scenarios.

Éric Martel, President and Chief Executive Officer of Bombardier, expressed immense pride in the announcement. “The Global 6500 aircraft is a world-class, made-in-Canada product with the versatility to perform multiple missions, making it the go-to solution for governments around the world,” said Martel. “Today, the more than 12,000 Canadians who work at Bombardier can take great pride in knowing that this aircraft will now serve their country.”

Delivery of the first aircraft is expected by the summer of 2027, marking the beginning of a modern chapter in Canada's utility flight service.

The contract award was celebrated by government and industry officials, including the Honourable Stephen Fuhr, Secretary of State for Defence Procurement, who described the procurement as a “turning point in how Canada equips its military.” He highlighted the role of the Defence Investment Agency in accelerating the delivery of versatile capabilities by streamlining processes. "Canada has a world-class aerospace industry, and this investment will harness that strength to create good-paying jobs, drive innovation, and bolster our security,” Minister Fuhr added.

The manufacturing of the Global 6500 aircraft, which benefits from the contribution of over 60 Canadian suppliers, is a powerful economic engine. A PwC report commissioned by Bombardier calculated that in 2022 alone, the total economic footprint supported in Canada from the Global 6500 manufacturing activities was $518.3 million in GDP, supporting the equivalent of 3,747 full-time jobs and generating $309.1 million in labour income. This purchase not only secures vital air transport capabilities for the RCAF but also injects significant capital and confidence into the national aerospace sector.

The Global 6500 aircraft is manufactured at Bombardier’s state-of-the-art Global Aircraft Assembly Centre, a facility representing an investment of over $670 million CAD and employing more than 2,000 highly skilled workers. As governments worldwide seek to modernise their airborne defence capabilities, the Global 6500 continues to prove itself as a flexible, reliable, and technologically advanced solution, a jewel of Canadian manufacturing ready to serve its home nation on the world stage.