Avalon 2025: Bombardier announces two special mission aircraft for Australia

The Bombardier Challenger 650 is a reconfigurable special mission platform. This rendering appears to show the aircraft in its maritime patrol configuration. (Bombardier Defense)

Bombardier Defense has announced that it is providing an Australian-based leasing firm with two Challenger 650 special mission aircraft for operations in Australia.

In a statement on 25 March, Bombardier Defense said that the procurer is Principle Finance, an Australian-based “provider of customised operating lease for aircraft”. A signing ceremony, which confirmed the purchase, was held that same day during the Avalon 2025 international airshow.

Principle Finance “has acquired two … Challenger 650 aircraft destined for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions in Australia. The delivery of both aircraft is planned for 2026”, Bombardier said.

On its website, Principle Finance describes itself as “offering comprehensive finance structures designed to meet the unique needs of operators across special mission sectors of the aerospace industry”. The company states that this includes mission-specific aircraft modifications and specialised mission equipment.

Janes has reached out to Bombardier and Principle Finance for additional information.

According to Bombardier, the Challenger 650 aircraft have “short-field performance” and are an “ideal choice for ISR missions” by having the capabilities to cover “expansive territories and offering performance comparable to large maritime patrol aircraft at fractions of their purchase and operating costs”.

It is unclear which configuration the two aircraft will be delivered in. In a photograph of the contract signing published by Bombardier, a model of the Challenger 650 was displayed in maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) configuration. Janes assesses that the model contained external features and antennas associated with synthetic aperture radar-ground moving target indicator (SAR-GMTI) systems, an electro-optic/infrared (EO/IR) pod, communication intelligence (COMINT), and a datalink system.