In keeping with the requirements of the Royal Canadian Air Force, Bombardier and General Dynamics have announced their collaboration to advance their proposal for a multi-mission aircraft program, based on a version of the Global 6500, designed for patrol The mission has been modified to anti-submarine warfare. and opposing surface.
In late March, the Canadian government reported its intention to proceed with the program in the form of the Canadian Multi-Mission Aircraft (CMMA), through which it intends to replace the current CP-140 Aurora surveillance and patrol aircraft. Retirement is over. Scheduled for the year 2030.
However, the Canadian government informed that they have started the process of submitting a Letter of Request (LoR) to the US for the Boeing P-8 aircraft. However, with the recent joint announcement by Bombardier and General Dynamics, Canada’s largest aircraft manufacturer is looking to bet on the Global 6500 to compete in the program.
According to what is clear from the May 18 statement, the Bombardier Global 6500 will be modified to perform a range of missions through the incorporation of capabilities that allow the aircraft to perform these missions: intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; Maritime patrol, anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare.
“The foundation of the Canadian Multi-Mission Aircraft Team’s solution is the highly efficient and agile Global 6500 aircraft, which is the right size aircraft for CMMA combined with next-generation engines, long range, high-endurance and proven reliability. Improved fuel efficiency .(…) The global family of aircraft is the platform of choice for more than 10 different mission types worldwide, its ability to deploy in all weather conditions with full mission payloads, its ultimate combination of speed, reach and resistance, and Its availability worldwide 24 hours a day, 7 days a week” said Bombardier in its official statement.
For its part, General Dynamics’ involvement builds on the United States company’s involvement in other modernization projects undertaken by the Canadian Armed Forces in the past. As in the case of updating the avionics system and extending the useful life of the CP-140 Aurora, which has guaranteed its operation until the year 2030.
“For decades, General Dynamics has taken pride in providing solutions to Canada’s defense needs. This new partnership unlocks a generational opportunity to pair our state-of-the-art, reliable mission systems to ultimately provide a Made-in-Canadian solution that supports Canada’s future multi-mission air needs while easily building capacity Is. Canada will benefit in many other ways,” said Joel Houde, vice president and general manager, General Dynamics Mission Systems-International.
Finally, Bombardier and General Dynamics have stated that on May 31 they will hold a press conference to the media and public where they will provide further details of their proposal for a multi-mission aircraft program for the Royal Canadian Air Force.
