The Government Of Canada, Department Of National Defence has placed an order with Bombardier Business Aircraft for six Global 6500s, with options for four additional units, to replace the country's current VIP executive jet fleet, consisting of four Challenger 600-series aircraft operated by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). The deal is valued at approximately CAD753 million (USD546 million).
Deliveries are scheduled to begin in summer 2027, with the first ultra-long-range aircraft expected to enter service by year-end. Full operational capability of all Global 6500s, tasked with VIP transport, national security missions, medical evacuations, disaster relief, and humanitarian operations, is projected by 2032.
The agreement under the Airlift Capability Project - Multi-role Flight Service (ACP-MFS) also covers training for crew and maintenance technicians as well as military modifications. The order represents one of the first acquisitions under the Liberal government's Defence Investment Agency (DIA), announced by Prime Minister Mark Carney in October.
The Global-series jets will replace two 23.8-year-old Challenger 604(CC-144C)s, 144617 (msn 5533) and 144618 (msn 5535), along with two Challenger 650(CC-144D)s, averaging seven years old, 144619 (msn 6144) and 144620 (msn 6152). All Challenger aircraft, operated by the 412 Transport Squadron, are based at Ottawa International.
The two Challenger 650(CC-144D)s were acquired in 2020 through a CAD105 million (USD78 million) sole-source deal with Bombardier, signed by the previous Liberal government led by former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. At the time, both jets replaced two Challenger 601(CC-144B)s.
Beyond the current Challenger fleet, the RCAF previously operated twelve Challenger 600(CC-144A)s, with the earliest unit added in 1983 and the last retired in 2012, as well as four Challenger 601(CC-144B)s, inducted in the mid-1980s, with the last pair phased out in 2020.
The RCAF's jet-powered fleet further comprises three A310-300(MRTT)s, including one VIP-configured and two tankers, two VIP-configured A330-200s, and an A330-200(MRTT), all stationed at Trenton, ON.
Canada becomes the second country to order the Global 6500 for VIP transport, following Sweden's SEK1.1 billion kronor (USD115 million) order for two aircraft earlier this year. The jets will be operated by the Swedish Air Force, replacing a GIV-SP and a G550. Other air forces operate the Global 6500 platform in various military configurations.
