Bombardier Defense has delivered the seventh Global aircraft to defence and security company Saab, ready to be transformed into Saab’s Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) solution known as GlobalEye.
Bombardier’s latest Global aircraft delivery is destined to join the Swedish Air Force and will be Saab’s second GlobalEye aircraft to join Sweden’s military fleet. The seven aircraft delivered by Bombardier to the GlobalEye programme highlight a successful collaboration and echo Bombardier’s thriving, long-standing reputation manufacturing specialised aircraft for the defence industry.
“More and more countries are preparing for the future by choosing modern, more efficient business jets as strategic assets for their military fleet,” said Jean-Christophe Gallagher, Executive Vice-President, Aircraft Sales and Bombardier Defense. “With the rapid progression of technologies, there is a growing realisation that business jets, such as our Global aircraft, can seamlessly integrate the equipment and capabilities that were traditionally carried by commercial aircraft.”
In addition to offering lower operating costs than commercial aircraft, Global business jets have take-off and landing capabilities that allow them to fly in and out of more strategic locations. The agility granted by the steep approach certification and the advanced wing design of the Global aircraft is an advantageous feature to airborne surveillance platforms, designed for long-range air, maritime and ground surveillance.
As such, Saab’s GlobalEye incorporates some essential attributes of the Global business jet including over 11 hours of operational endurance, state-of-the-art avionics, and class-leading maintenance intervals. Paired with ample cabin space for workstations and mission equipment for ideal crew conditions, the Global aircraft is perfectly suited for situational awareness missions of large areas.
