Canada’s Global 6500 jet to feature advanced Italian AESA radar for maritime multi-mission role
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During the 2025 Paris Air Show, the Italian company Leonardo and the Canadian Bombardier Defense announced the signing of a non-exclusive Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly explore emerging opportunities in the fast-evolving Maritime Multi-Mission Aircraft (MMA) sector. This strategic agreement envisions the integration of Leonardo’s sophisticated mission and sensor technologies into Bombardier’s Global 6500 twin-engine business jet.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The Bombardier Global 6500 is a long-range business jet powered by Rolls-Royce BR710 Pearl engines, capable of reaching a top speed of Mach 0.90 and a typical cruise speed of Mach 0.85. (Picture source: Bombardier)
The collaboration seeks to define a new standard in maritime patrol, surveillance, and response by offering a flexible, high-end solution for a range of naval and security missions. The initiative comes amid growing global demand for cost-effective, multi-role aircraft capable of executing diverse maritime operations, including submarine detection, coastal monitoring, border security, and environmental surveillance.
The collaboration aims to open new market pathways by creating a specialized MMA product that leverages the operational range, endurance, and performance of the Global 6500 with Leonardo’s advanced mission suite. Among the key opportunities identified are the growing requirements for modular, customizable aircraft capable of fulfilling a wide array of maritime roles, from tracking and neutralizing submarines and monitoring surface vessels to conducting search and rescue operations and protecting national maritime economic zones. This includes the integration of Leonardo’s ATOS mission system with cutting-edge sensors such as the Osprey AESA radar, EO/IR payloads, EW systems, and acoustic processors for sonobuoy deployment. Such a platform is expected to serve nations seeking advanced capabilities traditionally offered by heavier, more costly aircraft, but in a lighter, more agile, and more economical configuration.
At the heart of the concept lies the integration of Leonardo’s battle-proven ATOS (Airborne Tactical Observation and Surveillance) mission system, recognized for its open architecture and multi-domain operability. ATOS provides real-time data fusion and situational awareness by combining radar, EO/IR, electronic surveillance, and acoustic subsystems into a unified mission environment. This enables operators to rapidly detect, classify, and track naval surface and subsurface targets in high-threat or congested maritime zones. The Global 6500, with its 6,600 nautical mile range, advanced avionics suite, and smooth high-altitude performance, offers a robust and adaptable airframe with significant internal space for mission system integration, operator consoles, and onboard processing units.
The platform is expected to be equipped with a customized sensor suite including Leonardo’s Osprey AESA radar, capable of 360-degree maritime surveillance, and a modular acoustic processing system compatible with both passive and active sonobuoys for ASW tasks. This could be complemented by a comprehensive EW (Electronic Warfare) package and self-protection suite to enhance survivability in contested environments. The onboard infrastructure would support long-endurance missions with reduced crew workload, allowing persistent coverage of maritime areas of interest, supported by high-bandwidth communications for network-centric warfare applications.
Leonardo’s extensive experience in delivering integrated solutions on both proprietary and third-party platforms, combined with Bombardier Defense’s legacy of fielding over 500 specialized aircraft across security, defense, and humanitarian roles, underscores the credibility and ambition behind this initiative. In an era where NATO allies and global defense customers are increasingly seeking multi-role assets that bridge the gap between strategic surveillance and tactical response, the proposed Global 6500-based MMA presents a timely, high-performance alternative to traditional maritime patrol aircraft with enhanced mission versatility and operational efficiency.
The Bombardier Global 6500 is a long-range business jet powered by Rolls-Royce BR710 Pearl engines, capable of reaching a top speed of Mach 0.90 and a typical cruise speed of Mach 0.85. Its maximum range is approximately 12,270 kilometers, and it operates at a service ceiling of up to 51,000 feet. The aircraft can remain airborne for up to 18 hours. Its design incorporates Bombardier’s SmoothFlex wing, and it is equipped with a Combined Vision System on the flight deck. The Global 6500 has a documented dispatch reliability rate of approximately 99.83 percent, and maintenance intervals are set at 750 flight hours.
Military versions of the aircraft are adapted for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), airborne early warning and control (AEW&C), and electronic warfare (EW) missions. These adaptations include external antennas, active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars, and reconfigurable interiors for mission-specific systems and workstations. It is used in military programs such as the U.S. Army’s HADES (High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System), designated ME-11B, and Sierra Nevada Corporation’s RAPCON-X platform. The Global 6500 is described as having a 13 percent reduction in fuel consumption and a 9 percent increase in engine thrust compared to earlier models. Configurations for military or medical missions include support for stretchers, integrated workstations, and global support infrastructure to sustain 24/7 operations.
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During the 2025 Paris Air Show, the Italian company Leonardo and the Canadian Bombardier Defense announced the signing of a non-exclusive Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly explore emerging opportunities in the fast-evolving Maritime Multi-Mission Aircraft (MMA) sector. This strategic agreement envisions the integration of Leonardo’s sophisticated mission and sensor technologies into Bombardier’s Global 6500 twin-engine business jet.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The Bombardier Global 6500 is a long-range business jet powered by Rolls-Royce BR710 Pearl engines, capable of reaching a top speed of Mach 0.90 and a typical cruise speed of Mach 0.85. (Picture source: Bombardier)
The collaboration seeks to define a new standard in maritime patrol, surveillance, and response by offering a flexible, high-end solution for a range of naval and security missions. The initiative comes amid growing global demand for cost-effective, multi-role aircraft capable of executing diverse maritime operations, including submarine detection, coastal monitoring, border security, and environmental surveillance.
The collaboration aims to open new market pathways by creating a specialized MMA product that leverages the operational range, endurance, and performance of the Global 6500 with Leonardo’s advanced mission suite. Among the key opportunities identified are the growing requirements for modular, customizable aircraft capable of fulfilling a wide array of maritime roles, from tracking and neutralizing submarines and monitoring surface vessels to conducting search and rescue operations and protecting national maritime economic zones. This includes the integration of Leonardo’s ATOS mission system with cutting-edge sensors such as the Osprey AESA radar, EO/IR payloads, EW systems, and acoustic processors for sonobuoy deployment. Such a platform is expected to serve nations seeking advanced capabilities traditionally offered by heavier, more costly aircraft, but in a lighter, more agile, and more economical configuration.
At the heart of the concept lies the integration of Leonardo’s battle-proven ATOS (Airborne Tactical Observation and Surveillance) mission system, recognized for its open architecture and multi-domain operability. ATOS provides real-time data fusion and situational awareness by combining radar, EO/IR, electronic surveillance, and acoustic subsystems into a unified mission environment. This enables operators to rapidly detect, classify, and track naval surface and subsurface targets in high-threat or congested maritime zones. The Global 6500, with its 6,600 nautical mile range, advanced avionics suite, and smooth high-altitude performance, offers a robust and adaptable airframe with significant internal space for mission system integration, operator consoles, and onboard processing units.
The platform is expected to be equipped with a customized sensor suite including Leonardo’s Osprey AESA radar, capable of 360-degree maritime surveillance, and a modular acoustic processing system compatible with both passive and active sonobuoys for ASW tasks. This could be complemented by a comprehensive EW (Electronic Warfare) package and self-protection suite to enhance survivability in contested environments. The onboard infrastructure would support long-endurance missions with reduced crew workload, allowing persistent coverage of maritime areas of interest, supported by high-bandwidth communications for network-centric warfare applications.
Leonardo’s extensive experience in delivering integrated solutions on both proprietary and third-party platforms, combined with Bombardier Defense’s legacy of fielding over 500 specialized aircraft across security, defense, and humanitarian roles, underscores the credibility and ambition behind this initiative. In an era where NATO allies and global defense customers are increasingly seeking multi-role assets that bridge the gap between strategic surveillance and tactical response, the proposed Global 6500-based MMA presents a timely, high-performance alternative to traditional maritime patrol aircraft with enhanced mission versatility and operational efficiency.
The Bombardier Global 6500 is a long-range business jet powered by Rolls-Royce BR710 Pearl engines, capable of reaching a top speed of Mach 0.90 and a typical cruise speed of Mach 0.85. Its maximum range is approximately 12,270 kilometers, and it operates at a service ceiling of up to 51,000 feet. The aircraft can remain airborne for up to 18 hours. Its design incorporates Bombardier’s SmoothFlex wing, and it is equipped with a Combined Vision System on the flight deck. The Global 6500 has a documented dispatch reliability rate of approximately 99.83 percent, and maintenance intervals are set at 750 flight hours.
Military versions of the aircraft are adapted for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), airborne early warning and control (AEW&C), and electronic warfare (EW) missions. These adaptations include external antennas, active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars, and reconfigurable interiors for mission-specific systems and workstations. It is used in military programs such as the U.S. Army’s HADES (High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System), designated ME-11B, and Sierra Nevada Corporation’s RAPCON-X platform. The Global 6500 is described as having a 13 percent reduction in fuel consumption and a 9 percent increase in engine thrust compared to earlier models. Configurations for military or medical missions include support for stretchers, integrated workstations, and global support infrastructure to sustain 24/7 operations.
