Air Force of the United Arab Emirates will buy a new business jet Challenger 650, configured for different missions, including maritime surveillance, Search and rescue operations, and adapted for medical evacuation. The contract was signed at the ongoing IDEX exhibition of weapons technology in the UAE.
The aircraft will be modified by UAE-based Aquila Aerospace with the assistance of Bombardier's specialized aviation arm.. Expected, that the aircraft will be delivered to the Aquila Modification Center at Al Bateen Airport in Abu Dhabi at 2019 year, and after the changes will be put into operation.
Although the original contract covers only one aircraft, the parties are considering an option to purchase a second car.
Regarding the purpose of the machine, Emirates is considering a wide variety of mission types. They include maritime surveillance, search and rescue, operations management and control, VIP transportation, medical evacuation.
The UAE currently operates several other aircraft for similar missions., including two Bombardier Global 6000s, received reconnaissance and observation configuration, 2 Can get 200s, deployed as airborne early warning aircraft, 2 Bombardier Dash 8s for maritime surveillance and various boards, used as VIP transport. Besides, The UAE Air Force signed a contract for the supply of AWACS aircraft to Saab GlobalEye Airborne.
Work on the new aircraft will include new doors, installation of a flight control station, as well as the installation of several secret sensors.
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Bombardier Challenger 650 has a range 7400 km, flight ceiling 12500 m and maximum takeoff weight 21800 kg. Cruising speed - 890 km, the optimal number of passengers in a business configuration is 8 human. The average cost of the civilian version is 32,35 million dollars.
