The U.S. Department of Defense is undergoing an information revolution as it shifts its focus away from the Greater Middle East to confront Russia and China. This has prompted changes in battlefield intelligence and the way it is shared, with a focus on long-range weapons, sensitive radars, and powerful jammers. Bombardier Defense is investing in new internal capabilities to adapt to these changing demands. The company has recently won two U.S. Army intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance contracts. In an interview with C4ISRNET, Vice President Steve Patrick emphasized flexibility as key to satisfying the needs of modern militaries.
The U.S. Army is prioritizing deep sensing and long-range fires and is looking into the Multi-Domain Sensing System (MDSS). Bombardier Defense’s high-altitude, long-endurance platforms can fulfill these needs. The company’s business jets are reliable, high-performance assets that can operate anywhere. Bombardier is also participating in the U.S. Army’s ATHENA-R and -S contracts, as well as the Air Force’s BACN program, due to the reliability, performance, and availability of its aircraft.
Bombardier Defense is investing internally in Wichita, Kansas to meet increased demand for its products and services. The company is focusing on reusable solutions, creating capabilities for additional electrical power, cooling, and payload volumes. One of the company’s successful collaborations is Saab, which recently received its seventh Global aircraft. The GlobalEye, an airborne early warning aircraft, is part of a contractor-owned, contractor-operated arrangement and has received interest from markets in Asia and Europe.
The Pentagon’s focus on great power competition and the need to engage with China at a distance highlights the need for assets that can perform missions at a long range. With recent activity in Europe, the need for flexibility in addressing changing crisis areas becomes essential. Bombardier’s solutions are designed to fit that niche very well. Guarding against future uncertainties and staying flexible is crucial in responding to evolving theater needs.
