Bombardier Defense will provide three Global 6500 aircraft to support maritime surveillance missions for Australian border control authorities. The long-range business jets will be configured for special mission use rather than conventional corporate transport, reflecting their role in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations over maritime approaches.
The aircraft will be operated by US-based Metrea on behalf of the Australian Border Force under an outsourced air services model. In this arrangement, Bombardier supplies and configures the platforms, while Metrea is responsible for operational deployment in support of Australian border surveillance tasks.
The Global 6500 offers long endurance, high-speed transit and the cabin volume required to integrate sophisticated mission systems for maritime patrol and multi-role surveillance. The announcement focuses on their use in maritime surveillance, with no additional missions formally detailed at this stage.
The contract covers three aircraft dedicated to these operations. Publicly available information does not specify the value of the agreement, the detailed delivery schedule or the exact contractual structure, whether based on acquisition, leasing or a broader service contract. What is confirmed is that the aircraft will strengthen Australia’s ability to monitor its maritime borders using a business jet platform adapted for special missions.