Sierra Nevada Using Global 6500 Jets as Potential US Army Surveillance Aircraft

NV – Nevada-based aerospace company Sierra Nevada announce that is it investing over $200 million to produce two prototypes of its RAPCON-X intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft. The announcement comes as the US Army continues to search for a replacement for its aging fleet of Beechcraft RC-12 Guardrail signals intelligence collection aircraft.

The US Army is still evaluating whether to proceed with its High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES) aircraft program as its next fixed-wing ISR plane.

Sierra Nevada senior official Tim Harper said the company intends to be ready with its solution if the US Army decides to proceed with the initiative. He further mentioned that they had already started working on its RAPCON-X ISR aircraft a year ago in a push to build something that the US Army and the US Department of Defense need before they need it.

The RAPCON-X ISR aircraft is based on Bombardier’s Global 6500 business jet. Two Global 6500 jets will be modified to accommodate the radar and signals intelligence needed for ISR operations. The first Global 6500 business jet will be delivered to the Sierra Nevada later this year with initial flight tests scheduled to begin in Summer 2023. Sierra Nevada said the RAPCON-X will have an open architecture for future integration of cutting-edge technologies.