Bombardier won more than just US$2 billion in sales at the Dubai Airshow, its Challenger 605 business jet was selected by Boeing as the platform for its Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (MSA) program.
In its selection of the Challenger, Boeing said it offered the global market “a capable, low-risk maritime surveillance system based on Boeing’s proven P-8A mission system technology”. The aircraft, which will be converted by Boeing partner Field Aviation, will be configured to undertake missions such as anti-piracy, coastal and border security, and long-range search and rescue.
The Challenger’s payload capacity, endurance and speed were determining factors in its selection by Boeing.
Field Aviation is currently modifying a Boeing-owned Challenger 604 jet into an MSA demonstrator that will complete ground and flight testing of the mission systems and be presented to potential customers in 2014.
In commercial aircraft sales, Bombardier secured an order for up to 16 CS300 regional jets from Iraqi Airways, bringing the number of CSeries jets ordered so far to 419. The manufacturer also launched a higher-density 86-seat version of its NextGen Q400 when Thailand’s Nok Air placed firm commitments for two of the aircraft. Bombardier announced orders for up to 22 Q400s at the show.
