The Government of Canada has selected Bombardier to supply six Global 6500 aircraft to support the Royal Canadian Air Force’s multi-role flight service, strengthening the country’s air transport capability across a wide range of military and humanitarian missions.

The aircraft will be used for worldwide utility flights, including aeromedical evacuations, disaster relief, humanitarian assistance and national security operations. The decision underscores Canada’s strategic and sovereign capabilities in aerospace and defence, with the Global 6500 recognised as a made-in-Canada platform assembled in the Greater Toronto Area and completed in Greater Montreal.

Representatives from Bombardier and the federal government marked the agreement at Bombardier’s Global Aircraft Assembly Centre in the Greater Toronto Area, where the Global 6500 aircraft is assembled. Interior completion work for the fleet will be carried out in Greater Montreal. The order is valued at approximately US$400 million for Bombardier, based on the current list price of the aircraft and the cost of required military modifications.

The Royal Canadian Air Force, which has operated Bombardier Challenger aircraft since 1983, will benefit from the increased range and enhanced capability offered by the Global 6500. Delivery of the first aircraft is expected by the summer of 2027.

Bombardier President and Chief Executive Officer Éric Martel said the Global 6500 is a versatile, world-class aircraft designed to support multiple mission profiles. He noted that Bombardier’s workforce across Canada could take pride in seeing a domestically built aircraft entering service with the nation’s air force.

The announcement was attended by the Honourable Stephen Fuhr, Secretary of State for Defence Procurement, who described the contract as a turning point in how Canada equips its military. He highlighted the role of the Defence Investment Agency in streamlining procurement processes and accelerating the delivery of operational capabilities required by the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Also present were the Honourable Rechie Valdez, Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Member of Parliament for Mississauga–Streetsville, along with provincial officials and representatives from the Department of National Defence and the Royal Canadian Air Force.

The Global 6500 is manufactured at Bombardier’s state-of-the-art Global Aircraft Assembly Centre, inaugurated in 2024 following an investment of more than CAD670 million. The facility employs over 2,000 highly skilled workers and supports advanced, high-precision aircraft manufacturing. The aircraft also draws on contributions from more than 60 Canadian suppliers, reflecting the strength of Canada’s aerospace supply chain.

Bombardier has published an Environmental Product Declaration for the Global 6500, providing a detailed life-cycle assessment of the aircraft’s environmental footprint. The company notes that its business jets are widely recognised for performance and reliability and are well suited to defence missions such as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, airborne early warning and control, border and maritime patrol, multi-role operations, head-of-state transport, medevac and urgent humanitarian assistance.