Bombardier Global Express

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The Bombardier Global Express is a large cabin, ultra long range business jet manufactured by Bombardier Aerospace in Toronto, Canada. There are currently five variants, the original Global Express, Global 5000, Global 6000, Global 7000 & Global 8000. The Global Express has been modified for military missions, such as the Raytheon Sentinel and the USAF's E-11A. The Global Express can fly intercontinental ranges without refueling (e.g. New York–Tokyo) or between most two points in the world with only one stop. In this class the Global Express competes with the Airbus Corporate Jet, Boeing Business Jet and Gulfstream G550.

Variants[edit | edit source]

Civil variants[edit | edit source]

Global 5000[edit | edit source]

The Global 5000 was announced in October 2001. It was launched in February 2002, with letters of intent for 15 aircraft with a 87,700 lb (39,800 kg) MTOW, and a 4,800 nmi (8,900 km) range at Mach 0.85. The first aircraft flew on March 7th 2003. It was introduced in April 2005. There were 224 in service in 2018. In April 2008, Bombardier lifted its MTOW to 92,500 lb (42,000 kg) to increase its Mach 0.85 range to 5,200 nmi (9,600 km).

Its cabin is 5.9 ft (1.8 m) shorter than the Global 6000 with a 5,800–7,000 lb (2,600–3,200 kg) lower MTOW depending on service bulletins. It has a 5,000–5,400 nmi (9,300–10,000 km) range at LRC. The spec basic operating weight is 50,350 lb (22,840 kg) but are actually closer to 51,600 lb (23,400 kg). Early models kept the Honeywell Primus 2000XP avionics, updated with the Bombardier Vision flight deck based on the Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics since 2012.

It can carry between 8 and 19 passengers. The new seat converts to a full berth. There is an optional private room aft and the galley has room to prepare 16 five-course meals. It was priced at $40M in 2008. It has forward and aft lavatories. The crew rest area was removed, but could be restored. The tail fuel tank was removed and fuel is limited in the wings. Some avionics are rearranged to gain usable cabin length. The interior completions allowance is 3,200 kg.

In 2018, its unit cost was US$50.44 million. At high-speed cruise, it burns 5,000 lb (2,300 kg) of fuel in the first hour, then 4,000 lb (1,800 kg) the second hour and 3,000 lb (1,400 kg) for the third hour. In 2018, Early models with Honeywell avionics were sold for $10–20 million, while post-2012 aircraft with the modern Cockpit can fetch $22–36 million. A major inspection every 180 months cost $800,000-1.2 million. Two 8,000h engine overhauls can cost $4 million. The cheaper and more efficient Gulfstream G450 or Falcon 900LX are slower, have less range and smaller cabins.

Global Express XRS[edit | edit source]

The improved Global Express XRS was announced on 6 October 2003 during the NBAA Convention at Orlando, Florida. It replaced the original Global Express and provides greater range at high speed, cabin upgrades, improved takeoff performance, fast fueling capability and the Bombardier Enhanced Vision System (BEVS) as standard equipment. A new forward fuel tank in the wing/body fairing increases the usable fuel capacity by up to 1,486 lbs, allowing it to fly 6,500 nm at Mach 0.82, 6,150 nm at Mach 0.85 or 5,450 nm at Mach 0.87. It provides improved pressurization with a 4,500 ft cabin altitude at 45,000 ft and a 5,700 ft cabin altitude at 51,000 ft; a 25% improvement on the previous Global cabin.

Global 6000[edit | edit source]

Bombardier rebranded the Global Express XRS and upgraded the avionics from the Honeywell Primus 2000XP to the new Bombardier Vision flight deck, based on the Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics suite, to create the Global 6000. The Global 6000 was announced in 2011 and production started in 2012. Its flexible wing and 97.5 lb/sq ft (476 kg/m2) wing loading, the highest among its competitors, gives a comfortable ride in turbulence. It has improved acoustical insulation compared to its predecessor. On long trips, its fuel burn is 5,000 lb (2.3 t) in the first hour, 4,000 lb (1.8 t) in the second hour, 3,000 lb (1.4 t) in the third hour and 2,500 lb (1.1 t) for every subsequent hour. A Checks are scheduled every 750 hours, and for C Checks every 30 months. Engine reserves amount to $260 per hour. Over 315 were delivered by March 2019. Its competitors include the 6,200 nmi (11,500 km) Dassault Falcon 8X, the 6,500 nmi (12,000 km) Gulfstream G600 or even the 6,900 nmi (12,800 km) G650.

In 2018, its unit cost was US$62.31 million.

Global 5500/6500[edit | edit source]

In May 2018, Bombardier unveiled the Global 5500 and 6500. It was expected to enter service at the end of 2019. It has an optimized wing for a Mach 0.90 top speed, a revamped cabin inspired by the Global 7500 with its Nuage seat and updated Rolls-Royce BR710 Pearl engines with up to 13% lower fuel burn for better operating costs. It has better hot and high performance and 500 and 600 nmi (930 and 1,110 km) of additional range for 5,700 and 6,600 nmi (10,600 and 12,200 km), respectively. The engines have 9% more thrust.

By October 2018, 70% of the flight testing hours were completed. The programme involved two flight-test Global 6500s, as the 5500 is a simple 0.8 m (2 ft 7 in) shrink. The redesigned wings are built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. By December, the flight-test program was nearly three-quarters complete. By May 2019, 90% of the flight testing was completed by two modified 6000s and one modified 5000.

In September 2019, Bombardier announced the Transport Canada Type Certification of both models, before entry-into-service later in 2019 and FAA/EASA approval. Bombardier announced the Global 6500 entry-into-service on October 1st. EASA Type Certification of both models was announced in October 2019. Shortly after, the Global 5500 range was extended by 200 nmi (370 km) to 5,900 nmi (10,900 km) at Mach 0.85.

FAA Type Certification of both variants was announced in December 2019. Bombardier announced the entry-into-service of the Global 5500 in June 2020.[57] The first Global 5500 was delivered in July 2020, to " longtime Bombardier customer Unicorp National Developments, headquartered in Orlando, Florida."

In 2023, the Global 5500 costs $47.4 million, while the Global 6500 costs $58 million.

Military variants[edit | edit source]

AWACS[edit | edit source]

  • Bombardier/Saab Globaleye: A Global 6000 with the SAAB Erieye's ER AESA radar for the United Arab Emirates Air Force.
  • Phoenix AEW&C: A Global 6500 with the Elta EL/W-2085 radar developed by L3Harris as a replacement for the E-3 Sentry used by European NATO countries. Selected by the Republic of Korea Air Force in September 2025.

Maritime Patrol Aircraft[edit | edit source]

  • Saab-Bombardier Swordfish: A Swedish concept of a maritime patrol aircraft. No sales have been made.
  • Bombardier Defense and General Dynamics Mission Systems–Canada offered a multi-mission aircraft focused on maritime patrol. It was offered to Canada for that role, but was not selected.
  • Maritime MMA (Multi-Mission Aircraft): An aircraft designed in collaboration by Leonardo and Bombardier Defense unveiled in June 2025. This aircraft will be equipped with the Leonardo ATOS mission system.
  • PAL P-6: A maritime patrol aircraft built on Global 6500 platform by PAL Aerospace and Bombardier Aviation but evolved from P-4 MPA based on the Q-400.

Surveillance Variants[edit | edit source]

  • Hensoldt Pegasus (SIGINT/Reconnaissance): In January 2020, the German Federal Ministry of Defence chose the Global 6000 over the unmanned Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton for the “Persistent German Airborne Surveillance System” (PEGASUS) program, to better integrate in the air traffic control.
  • Project Dolphin (SIGINT): Conversion of Global 6000 by Marshall into surveillance aircraft for United Arab Emirates. Two converted.
  • Bombardier-Raytheon Sentinel: The Raytheon Sentinel is a ground surveillance / reconnaissance aircraft used by the Royal Air Force and Royal Canadian Air Force.
  • DRDO ISTAR: The Centre for Airborne Systems of DRDO has selected Global 6500 variant for conversion into ISTAR platforms for the Indian Air Force. The programme is under development with three units expected to enter service.

Communications/Command Aircraft[edit | edit source]

  • E-11A: United States Air Force designation for Global aircraft being used as a platform for the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node

Users[edit | edit source]

  • Angola
    • Angolan Air Force
  • Botswana
    • Botswana Defence Force Air Wing
  • Canada
    • Royal Canadian Air Force
  • Germany
    • Luftwaffe
  • India
    • Indian Air Force
  • Korea
    • Republic of Korea Air Force
  • Malaysia
    • Royal Malaysian Air Force
  • Mexico
    • Mexican Air Force
  • Pakistan
    • Pakistan Air Force
  • Swaziland
    • Swaziland Air Force
  • Sweden
    • Swedish Air Force
  • Turkey
    • Turkish Air Force
  • United Arab Emirates
    • United Arab Emirates Air Force
  • United Kingdom
    • Royal Air Force
  • United States
    • United States Air Force
    • United States Army

See Also[edit | edit source]

Related Development[edit | edit source]

Comparable Aircraft[edit | edit source]