US Army Receives First HADES ISR Jet

Bombardier Defense has delivered the first Global 6500 aircraft to the U.S. Army as part of the High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES) program, aimed at enhancing the Army's intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. This aircraft represents a significant upgrade over existing turboprop platforms, offering improved speed, range, and payload capacity necessary for deep-sensing operations against sophisticated adversaries like China. Lt. Gen. Anthony Hale highlighted that this delivery addresses the Army's top capability gap in large-scale combat operations. Following this handover, the aircraft will require outfitting with mission systems, which has encountered delays due to a contract protest. The Army plans to acquire a fleet of 14 to 16 HADES jets, marking a shift towards high-altitude ISR platforms. The program reflects a strategic pivot for the Army, transitioning from traditional ground systems to advanced aerial capabilities to meet modern threats.