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In recent years, the demand and scope for using business aircraft as platforms for a wide array of special missions have been rising. Leading manufacturers in the sector—namely Gulfstream, Bombardier, Embraer, Dassault, and Textron—are all now vying for contracts covering applications ranging from electronic warfare to transportation for government leaders and emergency medical services.
A pair of orders from authorities in the Nordic region last month represents a prime example. Finland’s coast guard chose Bombardier’s Challenger 650 jet for its MVX airborne surveillance requirement, while Sweden exercised an option to acquire a third example of the Canadian company’s Global 6000-based S 106 GlobalEye airborne early warning (AEW) platform.
Over the years, Gulfstream has delivered more than 200 business jets to customers in over 40 countries, including all branches of the U.S. military. According to Leda Chong, the company’s vice president of worldwide government sales, it is currently engaged in projects with air forces in the U.S., Australia, and Italy. Current projects cover fields such as airborne research, command and control intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), and AEW.
