Canada announces procurement of six multi-purpose Bombardier Global 6500 aircraft

Public unveiling of the Bombardier Global 6500 at Geneva on 27 May 2018. (Bombardier)

The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) has purchased six Bombardier Global 6500 aircraft in a CAD753 million (USD546 million) order announced on 12 December 2025.

The procurement is one of the first for Canada's newly christened Defence Investment Agency (DIA). Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced DIA's establishment on 2 October.

The agency focuses on accelerating and streamlining defence procurement by consolidating procurement processes, supporting strategic defence sectors, and fostering early engagement between the Canadian Armed Forces and Canadian defence industry.

“The investment in the Global 6500 will provide a modern, versatile replacement for the current CC-144 Challenger fleet to perform worldwide utility flights and support missions such as aeromedical evacuations, disaster relief, humanitarian aid, and national security operations,” according to a DIA statement.

The first aircraft are expected to be delivered to the RCAF by boreal summer 2027, with initial operational capability achieved by the end of the year, according to the DIA.

“No other Canadian company is capable of meeting the specific requirements of the Airlift Capability Project – Multi-role Flight Service (ACP-MFS). Choosing a Canadian manufacturer was deemed to be in the public interest for practical and security reasons,” Amber Sabourin, media relations officer at Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), told Janes in an emailed statement.

Louise Solomita, public relations lead at Bombardier Defense, told Janes in an emailed statement that the RCAF has operated Bombardier Challenger aircraft since 1983 and Bombardier Global aircraft since the late 1990s, with each generation bringing enhancements in performance and special-mission use capability.