The Government of Canada has confirmed the purchase of six Bombardier Global 6500 aircraft to undertake worldwide utility flights and support a broad range of missions, including aeromedical evacuations, disaster relief, humanitarian assistance and national security operations. The agreement was marked today at Bombardier’s Global Aircraft Assembly Centre in the Greater Toronto Area, where the Global 6500 is assembled.
Under the programme, interior completion work for the aircraft will be carried out at Bombardier’s facilities in Greater Montréal, further reinforcing the domestic industrial footprint of the project. Based on the current list price of the Global 6500 and the cost of required military modifications, the order is valued at approximately US$400 million for Bombardier.
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), which has operated Bombardier Challenger aircraft since 1983, will benefit from the significantly enhanced range, endurance and mission flexibility offered by the Global 6500 platform. The aircraft’s long-range performance and advanced systems will allow the RCAF to conduct complex missions more efficiently, both within Canada and globally. Delivery of the first aircraft is expected by the summer of 2027.
Éric Martel, President and Chief Executive Officer of Bombardier, highlighted the strategic importance of the programme. “The Global 6500 is a world-class, made-in-Canada aircraft with the versatility to perform multiple missions, making it the solution of choice for governments around the world,” he said. “More than 12,000 Canadians who work at Bombardier can take great pride in knowing that this aircraft will now serve their country.”
