Bombardier Defense has sold two Challenger 650 aircraft to Australian aviation leasing company Principle Finance for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. Set for delivery in 2026, the twinjets will enhance Australia’s defense and surveillance capabilities. 

“This purchase represents a major milestone for Bombardier Defense, increasing our presence in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region,” said Jean-Christophe Gallagher, executive v-p of aircraft sales at Bombardier Defense. He emphasized the aircraft’s operational reach and persistence, as well as the company’s established support infrastructure in the country.

Principle Finance managing director Harrison Langrell highlighted the Challenger 650’s reliability and performance, stating that it would significantly enhance their surveillance effectiveness in a rapidly evolving defense landscape.

The Challenger 650 has an endurance of up to 11 hours, along with a dispatch reliability rate of 99.9% and 4,000-nm range. Its ability to fly higher and farther than legacy ISR platforms offers cost-effective performance comparable to larger maritime patrol aircraft, according to Bombardier. Additionally, it said, the aircraft's flexible configuration supports customized mission-specific equipment.

Bombardier Defense has expanded its Australian footprint with the 2022 opening of the Melbourne Service Center, as well as an office in Adelaide that was added last year. The company also launched a line maintenance station in Perth last week.