In late November, Sierra Nevada Corporation, a leading defense contractor and electronics and engineering corporation, announced the first flight of the company’s Sierra Nevada RAPCON-X. This aircraft is a converted Bombardier Global 6500 with significant modifications. Specifically, this aircraft includes several upgraded technologies that make the aircraft a proper aerial intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (A-ISR) platform. The Sierra Nevada RAPCON-X was recently selected by the United States Army for the Theater Level High Altitude Expeditionary Next Airborne ISR (ATHENA) project. Additionally, the Sierra Nevada RAPCON-X platform was also chosen by the Finnish Border Guard for its MX program, although the aircraft used for this program is a Bombardier Challenger 650.
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Canada’s Airbus A330 MRTT Fleet: What’s The Latest?
While the US President’s flagship executive transport comprises a pair of modified Boeing 747s, other countries have opted for smaller jets – though still large relative to other nations. Like the UK, France, and some other nations, Canada’s flagship executive transport is now the Airbus A330.The Canadian government aims to convert all of these to multi-role tanker transports (MRTTs) in the future. The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) will eventually have 9 of these converted A330s in its fleet, with some having come 2nd-hand from Kuwait Airways, and others being purpose built for the Canadian Forces.