Bombardier – Canadian Innovation Trusted Around the World

BY JAMES CARELESS

Bombardier Defense is flying high as the popular aircraft provider of choice for modernized solutions for today’s most demanding missions. Recognized as the innovative defence arm of Bombardier, this organization carries the rich legacy of a respected Canadian aircraft manufacturer with a proven history of engineering prowess.

With more than 500 special mission aircraft delivered and an operational track record of over 3 million fleet hours, Bombardier Defense is on a growth trajectory, providing high-performing aircraft and the expertise to make critical missions happen.

Bombardier Challenger and Global aircraft platforms are serving with the most advanced militaries and operators in various missions such as Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), Maritime Patrol, Medical Evacuation, and Search and Rescue. These aircraft can fly higher, faster and farther than most legacy commercial platforms. Additionally, Challenger and Global jets can fulfill the same missions as larger aircraft at lower purchase and operating costs.

A key differentiator of Bombardier Defense is its flexible approach and dedication to collaboration with the customer. It offers a range of solutions including turnkey packages with the complete design, building, testing and certification of a specific aircraft. Bombardier Defense also provides specialist engineering support and technical oversight, working with customers to offer customized services specific to mission requirements.

“The proven performance of our aircraft speaks volumes,” said Jean-Christophe Gallagher, Executive Vice President, Aircraft Sales & Bombardier Defense. “Bombardier Defense provides solutions that are based on real-world experience and on the expertise of world-class engineers. That is why every day, we see modified Bombardier jets flying critical missions for allied nations that are essential to support national and international security.”

A HISTORY OF INNOVATION

Bombardier Defense’s culture of innovation can be traced back to the original Bombardier company, which got its start in rural Quebec. Its namesake, Joseph-Armand Bombardier, invented the seven-passenger B7 snowmobile in 1937. Five years on, he founded L’Auto-Neige Bombardier Limitée to manufacture the 12-passenger B12 snowmobile; followed by the popular Ski-Doo in 1959. Over the years, Bombardier expanded into subway cars and trains, and, of course, aviation, acquiring Canadair in 1986 and Learjet Corporation in 1990. After decades of aviation innovation, today Bombardier is a world-leading business aircraft manufacturer and support service provider.

Throughout its decades in aviation, Bombardier has been active in the defence space – engineering and adapting its aircraft for special missions and working with partners to modify various platforms for governmental and military needs. This market has expanded over the years, as the advantages of using business jets for special missions grows. In 2022, Bombardier Defense was created as a separate division to meet with increasing demands for business jet solutions for special mission requirements.

With governments around the world bolstering their border surveillance capabilities, the proven performance of Bombardier aircraft makes a compelling case. Bombardier aircraft fly further, faster and higher than legacy commercial platforms, which delivers considerable advantages in terms of sensor performance and situational awareness.

The use of these efficient and capable aircraft also allows for considerable savings in fuel use and operating costs.

RECENT SUCCESSES

“Strategic priorities and an evolving contested security environment have placed new pressures on the armed forces to enhance their aerial ISR fleets,” Gallagher told CDR. “Due to efficiency, business jets have been identified as the next-generation platforms, especially for ISR-type missions, as they can go further into active zones for a longer period of time.”

Bombardier Defense has achieved numerous successes in recent years in various military and government missions.

For example, Bombardier’s Global 6000 aircraft was selected by the German Air Force and the Cyber Command (CIR) to carry the country’s Persistent German Airborne Surveillance System (PEGASUS). It is being equipped with the Hensoldt Kalætron Integral signals intelligence (SIGINT) platform for airborne surveillance missions. The first Global 6000 PEGASUS aircraft had its first flight ain Wichita, KS, in October 2024.

Bombardier Defense enables the United States Air Force Battlefield Airborne Communication Node mission on the Global 6000, with a fleet of 8 aircraft delivered known as the E-11A. They are also a key part of the U.S. Army’s ISR modernization program where the Bombardier Global 6500 aircraft was selected as the platform for the High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES), which will deliver modernized and enhanced deep sensing capabilities. Once in service, the aircraft will be known as the ME-11B. Bombardier’s platform was selected by the Army for its superior performance and endurance to track adversaries over large distances.

Bombardier’s partnerships with industry leading mission integrators enables for solutions on different platform sizes according to end-customer needs. For example, SNC’s RAPCON-X solution, hosted on Global and Challenger platforms, provide next-generation ISR capabilities. This configuration was chosen by the Finnish Border Guard, who selected the Challenger 650 aircraft for its multi-role platform. The U.S. Army has also chosen a derivative of this solution in the testing phase leading up to the High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES) program.

Head of State air transport missions are also enabled by the Bombardier Defense family of aircraft, including the Global 7500 for Switzerland, the Global 6500 for Sweden and the Challenger 650 for Canada.

BOMBARDIER AND THE RCAF

Bombardier has a long legacy of supporting the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) through early programs such as the CP-107 Argus and the CF-104 Starfighter, up to modern platforms such as CT-155 Hawk, CF-18 Hornet and CC-144 Challenger. Bombardier’s support has spanned the full range of activities from production manufacturing to maintenance and upgrades and even aircrew training.

The RCAF currently operates four CC-144 Challenger aircraft which serve a variety of roles – including reconnaissance and liaison missions with partners across the globe, the speedy deployment of specialized capabilities and expertise, including the Disaster Assistance Response Team, and to facilitate the travels of the Governor General and the Prime Minister, as well as Parliamentarians. Bombardier’s services team has also delivered engineering and maintenance work on the RCAF’s CF-18 fleet in the past and continues to offer support to maintain the four Challenger aircraft.

A CLEAR VISION FOR CANADA

On April 14, 2025, Prime Minister Mark Carney visited Bombardier’s Dorval facility during his successful election campaign. During that stop, the Prime Minister outlined his plans to secure Canada and the Canadian industry during this time of geopolitical uncertainty, and amid a clear need to strengthen Canada’s defence capabilities.

“We will protect our sovereignty in an increasingly dangerous and divided world by rebuilding, reinvesting, and rearming our military,” Carney said. “In the process, we will support made-in-Canada defence procurement, while also helping our industries and businesses reach new markets around the world.”

Since being elected Prime Minister, Carney has reiterated his commitment to investing in Canada’s defence capabilities. This commitment was reinforced in the speech from the throne delivered by King Charles III in late May.

Indeed, the federal government has declared its intention to buy Canadian whenever possible, help Canadian defence businesses grow at home and diversify their markets abroad, and boost Canada’s domestic defence industries and production through deals with new markets. This last approach includes advancing Canada’s involvement in the ReArm Europe Plan in support of transatlantic security, while prioritizing investment here at home.

“Bombardier Defense would be honoured to help Canada reach its defence goals,” Gallagher said. “This includes developing capabilities key to securing Canada’s Arctic and better protecting our coastlines. We can enjoy strong partnerships with the government to drive innovative product development and production, to give the Canadian Forces the right equipment to conduct multi-domain surveillance operations to secure our borders over vast geographies.” 

Prime Minister Carney’s 2025 pledges at Bombardier neatly dovetail with the 2024 release of ‘Our North, Strong and Free: A Renewed Vision for Canada’s Defence’. In this update to Canada’s defence policy, Ottawa made very clear what this country’s primary defence priority is: “We must place a particular focus on defending the Arctic and North and its approaches against new and accelerating threats through credible deterrence. We will secure our Arctic and North by increasing the presence, reach, mobility and responsiveness of the Canadian Armed Forces in the region, and along our coasts and maritime approaches.”

AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING

As part of its efforts to increase Canada’s defence capabilities, the Canadian government has stated its intention to acquire Airborne Early Warning (AEW) aircraft.

Bombardier Defense already works with the world’s top mission systems integrators to provide exactly this type of solution to governments around the world, and the Bombardier Global 6500 aircraft is the go-to choice for AEW missions. 

Saab and L3Harris, two renowned mission system providers, are putting forth their solutions for Canada’s next AEW aircraft acquisition.

“All of us at Bombardier Defense look forward to working with our partners and the Government of Canada to provide a solution that relies on Canadian industry to protect Canadians and the country’s borders,” Gallagher added. “The Canadian government and the RCAF will carefully decide which solution best meets our country’s needs – and we are very proud to be a central part of those offerings.” 

PROUDLY CANADIAN

Bombardier employs more than 12,000 people in Canada across various sectors. The company contributed nearly $5.7 billion to Canada’s GDP in 2021, making it a significant player in our country’s economic well-being. With this combination of human resources depth, financial strength and global reach, Bombardier and Bombardier Defense are ready and able to keep supporting Canada.

“At Bombardier Defense, our mission is clear: to deliver proven, dependable, and advanced solutions that meet the evolving needs of our government and military partners. We stand ready—today and every day—to support Canada. I have complete confidence in our people, our products and our expertise, and our ability to help Canada be ready for tomorrow’s defence challenges,” concludes Gallagher.

The products, achievements, and defence challenges enumerated in this story make it clear: Bombardier Defense has what it takes to help Canada attain its ambitious defence goals.

James Careless is CDR’s Ottawa Bureau Chief