Key Points
- Canada will spend $753 million to amass six Bombardier Global 6500 jets to interchange the Royal Canadian Air Force’s CC-144 Challenger fleet.
- The contract contains plane, pilot coaching, and upkeep, with first deliveries anticipated in 2027.
The Canadian authorities has accepted the acquisition of six Bombardier Global 6500 plane to interchange the Royal Canadian Air Force’s remaining CC-144 Challenger fleet.
According to authorities statements, the contract is valued at $753 million and contains not solely the plane but additionally pilot coaching and long-term upkeep help. The first of the brand new jets is predicted to be delivered by summer time 2027, with the plane coming into service earlier than the top of that 12 months.
The Global 6500 jets, manufactured by Bombardier, will change the final 4 Challenger plane at present operated by the Royal Canadian Air Force. Those Challenger jets have been in service for the reason that Eighties and are used to move senior officers, together with the prime minister and the governor common, in addition to for different authorities duties.
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In a public assertion asserting the choice, Canada’s Secretary of State Stephen Fuhr stated the acquisition displays each industrial and protection priorities.
“Our authorities is supporting Canadian employees and trade whereas making generational investments within the Canadian Armed Forces,” Fuhr stated. “Today, we introduced a $753 million contract with Bombardier to amass six Global 6500 plane to interchange the prevailing Challenger CC-144 fleet.”
Fuhr added that the procurement highlights Canada’s home aerospace capabilities. “Canada is without doubt one of the few international locations on the planet that may absolutely design, construct, preserve, and certify a transport class plane,” he stated. “By selecting a Canadian-built fleet, we’re placing our trade, our employees, and our aerospace expertise entrance and centre.”
Ottawa says the brand new plane won’t be restricted to government transport. According to authorities officers, the Global 6500 jets will even be used for medical evacuations, humanitarian missions, and catastrophe reduction, increasing their position past conventional VIP journey.
“This funding will create lots of of fine jobs throughout Canada whereas offering the Royal Canadian Air Force with fashionable, versatile plane for humanitarian missions, medical evacuations, and nationwide safety operations,” Fuhr stated.
The Global 6500 is a long-range enterprise jet able to intercontinental flights and is already in service with a number of civilian and authorities operators worldwide. The platform presents better vary, endurance, and cabin area than the Challenger sequence it replaces, permitting it to help a broader vary of missions with out refueling stops.
The CC-144 Challenger fleet has lengthy been a topic of political debate in Canada. Opposition events have repeatedly criticized the usage of authorities plane by senior officers, describing the jets as an pointless expense. Ottawa has countered that the plane present important mobility for nationwide management and serve essential secondary roles, together with emergency response and medical transport.
Government officers say changing the growing older Challengers has turn out to be more and more troublesome because of upkeep calls for and elements availability, elements which have pushed up working prices and lowered availability. The new Global 6500 fleet is predicted to enhance reliability whereas aligning with present operational necessities.
