Bombardier Defense is celebrating the delivery of the first Global 6500 to the U.S. Army for the High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES) aerial military intelligence program. The delivery ceremony took place earlier today in Wichita and featured Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kansas), Kansas state officials, and U.S. Army leaders. This aircraft is the first prototype airframe for the HADES program and is “the beginning of the next stage of the program to integrate systems,” according to Bombardier.

Offering a maximum endurance of up to 18 hours, the twinjet will be used for aerial intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions such as deep sensing. Advantages of the business jet adapted to military IRS use include reliability, operational reach, and expanded operating areas. The Global 6500’s maintenance intervals are up to 750 hours and it has a dispatch reliability of 99.83%. 

“The partnership between Bombardier, the U.S. Army, and the Wichita workforce has produced a next-generation aircraft equipped to meet the demands of warfare in a new era of technology,” said Moran. “The HADES aircraft has the tools needed to deter threats, conduct surveillance, and help keep our country safe. This is the start of a new chapter in the aviation capabilities of our military and continues Kansas’ legacy of defense manufacturing.”