National Research Council of Canada Acquires Bombardier Global 6500 Aircraft to Support Advanced Defence Research

(IN SHORT) The National Research Council of Canada has acquired a Bombardier Global 6500 aircraft to serve as a research platform for advanced aerospace and defence technology development. The aircraft will join the NRC’s Aerospace Research Centre fleet and will be used to test and demonstrate emerging technologies that support the needs of Canada’s Department of National Defence and other innovation partners. Announced during an event in Ottawa attended by senior Canadian government officials, the acquisition builds on Canada’s broader use of the Global 6500 platform, including a separate order of six aircraft for government missions announced in 2025. Assembled in Mississauga, Ontario, and supported by a nationwide aerospace supply chain, the aircraft will be modified in Canada to integrate specialized research equipment and mission systems, enabling the NRC to advance defence innovation and strengthen Canada’s aerospace capabilities.

(PRESS RELEASE) MONTREAL, Canada, 2026-Mar-10 — /Travel PR News/ — Bombardier has announced that the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) has acquired a Global 6500 aircraft to serve as a high-performance research platform for advanced aerospace and defence technology development. The aircraft will become part of the NRC’s Aerospace Research Centre fleet, where it will support research and testing activities aimed at strengthening Canada’s defence capabilities and enabling innovation across both defence and dual-use sectors.

The acquisition was highlighted during an announcement event held on March 9 at the NRC’s hangar facility in Ottawa. The event brought together several senior government officials, including Mélanie Joly, Canada’s Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions; David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defence; Stephen Fuhr, Secretary of State for Defence Procurement; and Mitch Davies, President of the National Research Council of Canada.

The Global 6500 platform has been selected for its long-range performance, reliability, and adaptability for special-mission applications. The aircraft’s flexible architecture allows it to accommodate a wide variety of research equipment and mission systems, making it well suited for scientific and defence-related experimentation.

The NRC intends to use the aircraft as a flying laboratory capable of supporting the demonstration and testing of emerging technologies developed by Canadian research organizations and industry partners. These efforts are expected to contribute to the development of next-generation capabilities that support the operational needs of the Department of National Defence.

The acquisition further reinforces Canada’s use of the Global 6500 platform in government operations. In December 2025, the Government of Canada announced the purchase of six Global 6500 aircraft intended for global utility missions such as aeromedical evacuation, humanitarian assistance, disaster response, and national security operations.

Stephen McCullough, Executive Vice President of Engineering and Product Development at Bombardier Defense, said the Global 6500 provides a strong foundation for research and innovation due to its proven performance and adaptability for specialized missions. He noted that Canada’s aerospace talent and research ecosystem will be able to leverage the aircraft to develop advanced sovereign defence technologies.

Bombardier has extensive experience adapting its aircraft for governmental and special-mission use around the world. The Global 6500 platform has been modified in numerous configurations to support scientific research, surveillance operations, and other specialized applications.

One of the aircraft’s key advantages is its mission-configurable cabin and robust onboard architecture. The design allows for the installation of advanced sensors, mission systems, and research instrumentation while maintaining long-range operational capability. This flexibility enables the aircraft to evolve alongside new technologies over its service life.

The Global 6500 aircraft acquired by the NRC will be assembled in Canada at Bombardier’s facility located at Toronto Pearson International Airport in Mississauga, Ontario. The aircraft program relies on a large Canadian aerospace supply chain that includes more than 65 suppliers across the country.

As part of the agreement with Bombardier, the aircraft will undergo specialized modifications in Canada to support its mission as a research platform. These upgrades will enable the integration of advanced experimental systems and support future aerospace and defence research initiatives.

Bombardier business jets are widely used for specialized government and defence missions around the world. The platform can support a broad range of applications, including airborne early warning and control, intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance, signals intelligence operations, medical evacuation missions, head-of-state transport, and humanitarian assistance.

Through the integration of the Global 6500 into the NRC fleet, Canada aims to strengthen its national research infrastructure and support the development of innovative technologies that can benefit both the defence sector and broader aerospace industries.

About Bombardier

At Bombardier (BBD-B.TO), we design, build, modify and maintain the world’s best-performing aircraft for the world’s most discerning people and businesses, governments and militaries. That means not simply exceeding standards, but understanding customers well enough to anticipate their unspoken needs. 

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