The roster of Bombardier’s special mission aircraft is set to grow with two orders from Nordic nations, both signed yesterday. Finland’s coast guard has selected the Challenger 650 for its MVX airborne surveillance requirement, while Sweden has exercised an option to purchase a third Global 6000-based S 106 GlobalEye airborne early warning (AEW) platform.
Sierra Nevada will supply Finland’s aircraft following the signing of a $170 million deal. The U.S. company will outfit the two large-cabin Challengers to meet the coast guard’s requirements, based on the company’s Rapcon-X aerial intelligence-gathering solutions.
To be operated on the civil register as OH-MVX and OH-MVY, the Challenger 650s will replace two Dornier Do-228 turboprop twins. Following outfitting at Hagerstown, Maryland, they are due to enter service in 2026 and 2027. The primary roles will be border and maritime surveillance, both of which have assumed greater importance given new NATO member Finland’s long border with Russia and its Baltic coastline.
Neighboring Sweden already has two S 106s on order, the first of which is currently in modification. It is expected to enter service with the Swedish air force F-16 wing at Uppsala in 2027. Saab buys the Global 6000 aircraft “green” from Bombardier before modifying them for the AEW role, including the addition of the Erieye ER radar in a large dorsal “ski-box” fairing. A fourth aircraft remains on option.