Bombardier releases statement on airborne surveillance
by CM staff
The statement is from Éric Martel, President and Chief Executive Officer of Bombardier.
MONTRÉAL —This year, Bombardier has sold and delivered Global series aircraft to multiple governments, armed forces and special mission integrators for a variety of surveillance and other missions.
Over the last decade, Global series aircraft have been evaluated and chosen in the U.S., U.K. Germany, Sweden, and other countries.
“As President and CEO of Bombardier, I want to publicly share my concern that Canada, which is facing an important choice about the airborne surveillance of its vast borders, may be considering awarding a sole-source contract directly to Boeing,” said Éric Martel.
The statement continues:
With special mission equipment getting smaller as technology progresses, Bombardier believes that the Global 6500 aircraft will be the right-sized solution and will respond to Canada’s needs, with its:
- Longer range offering, endurance and proven reliability.
- Next-generation engines and aerodynamic profile that contributes to operating costs and a lower carbon footprint.
“A Canadian Multi-Mission Aircraft (CMMA) tender, open to diverse proposals, would be an opportunity for Canada to re-think its surveillance capabilities. A Canadian-built option should, and must, be considered on equal footing with those of foreign companies who have, in the past, directly, attacked our home-grown aircraft programs,” the statement continues.
“Canada has the skills, the industrial footprint and the technological capabilities to succeed in this sphere and become more than an exporter of technology. This is the ultimate opportunity for Canadians to look to the skies and proudly trust a Canadian-built aircraft to defend our borders and support our allies.”
“On behalf of its more than 10,000 employees in Ontario and Quebec, Bombardier and its growing Defense team, along with its skilled partners, would be proud to put forward a made-in-Canada solution to compete in a Canadian Multi-Mission Aircraft (CMMA) tender, should Canada give us the opportunity to do so.”
