Bombardier wins US Army contract for new spy plane prototype – By Jen Judson (Defense News) / Jan 3, 2024
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army awarded a contract to Bombardier Defense to provide at least one Global 6500 aircraft to serve as a prototype airframe for a new spy plane program, the service announced Wednesday.
The firm-fixed-price contract, awarded Dec. 12, includes an option to purchase two additional aircraft over a three-year period. The first aircraft’s delivery date is set for Oct. 1, the statement noted.
The High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System, or HADES, will be the first intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft in the Army that uses a large-cabin business jet with advanced deep-sensing capabilities, according to the service.
The new aircraft will bring “increased range, speed, endurance and aerial [intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance] depth,” Col. Joe Minor, the Army’s project manager for fixed-wing aircraft, said in the statement.
