The Australian Border Force (ABF), which comes under the Department of Home Affairs, has contracted Metrea Australia to provide fixed wing surveillance capability across Australia’s extensive border.
Australia’s borders are quite unique in that they are all coastal, with much of the 60,000km coastline being very remote. The Australian Exclusive Economic Zone (AEEZ) being surveilled is 8.2 million square kilometers, a very large area that can be difficult to patrol in real-time.
The new Bombardier Global 6500 aircraft will provide much needed distance, speed and endurance capability to the ABP. The 6500 has a 6,600-nm range and Mach 0.90 Mmo. Bombardier already supply Learjet and Challenger aircraft to the ABP, and also to countries like Canada, who recently ordered 6 Global 6500 aircraft fort heir RCAF.
Bombardier already has a maintenance facility in Melbourne and in Perth, so they are well equipped to service the aircraft as required.
A delivery date for the aircraft has not yet been announced, but it is expected to the second half of 2027.
Bombardier Global 6500 Specifications
