Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

Editor-in-Chief

Bombardier manufactures a variety of business aircraft models, provides engineering, and aircraft maintenance services.

Bombardier Global Express, XRS, 5000, 5500, 6000, and 6500

Matt Thurber

Bombardier Defense has won a firm-fixed-price contract to supply a Global 6500 to the U.S. Army, with options for two more of the ultra-long-range business jets, the Army announced yesterday. The December 12 award was from the U.S. Army Contracting Command-Redstone Arsenal and in coordination with the Army Fixed Wing Project Office. Its first Global 6500 will be delivered on Oct. 1, 2024.
The Army will use the Global 6500s as prototypes for the High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (Hades) project, which “will provide advanced deep-sensing capabilities for use in multidomain operations against peer and near-peer adversaries,” according to the Army.
“Hades will bring the Army increased range, speed, endurance, and aerial [intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR)] depth,” said Joe S. Minor, project manager for Army fixed-wing aircraft. “Hades will operate at higher altitudes than legacy turboprop platforms. Higher altitudes equate to an ability to sense farther and more persistently into areas of interest. Deep sensing is the Army’s number-one operational imperative for the Army of 2030.”
In 2020, the Army started <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2023-08-28/mag-aero-l3harris-deliver-isr-globals-us-army">buying aerial ISR</a> in an “as a service” technology demonstrator format from defense companies using aerial technology demonstrators. The Army’s Athena-R (radar) and Athena-S (passive detection) programs—which also use the Global 6500 as their platforms—are part of an earlier award to MAG Aerospace and L3Harris Technologies and support Hades development.

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Bombardier Defense Wins U.S. Army Hades Global 6500 Jet Contract

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The Army will use Global 6500s as prototypes for High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (Hades) that “will provide advanced deep-sensing capabilities."

Bombardier Defense Wins Hades Global 6500 Contract

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