Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) has made a significant investment in the future of military reconnaissance by acquiring a new Bombardier Global 6500 aircraft. This purchase, funded entirely by SNC, is intended to accelerate the U.S. Army’s High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES) program, which aims to modernize aerial intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.
Unlike older spy planes, HADES is designed to harness the advantages of a proven commercial aircraft, thus optimizing speed and range. The initiative is poised to reduce program risk and expedite delivery timelines while mitigating potential supply chain disruptions and advancing necessary certifications.
This latest acquisition marks the fourth aircraft in the HADES portfolio and is set to become the first non-prototype jet in the fleet. It will specifically be utilized for speed flight trials. Modifications on the Global 6500 will take place at SNC’s facilities in Hagerstown, Maryland, where a workforce primarily sourced from Pennsylvania and West Virginia will be involved.
Andrew Evans, the director of strategy and transformation at the U.S. Army G-2 Intelligence Office, praised SNC’s proactive approach. He highlighted the Army’s challenge to the industrial sector to embrace risk, invest private capital, and innovate. Evans noted that SNC’s commitment to the HADES program exemplifies a new standard for collaboration between industry and the Army, aimed at delivering next-generation capabilities swiftly.
In 2024, SNC was designated as the lead integrator for the HADES program under a substantial 12-year contract, estimated to be valued at up to $1 billion. Currently, the company is focused on converting the first three Global 6500 aircraft into HADES prototypes, with the first to be commissioned later this year. These aircraft will incorporate a modular open systems approach, facilitating safer integration of future technologies and expediting the development of a production-level platform.
“HADES is more than an aircraft; it is a program built on urgency, discipline, and mission focus,” remarked Josh Walsh, vice president of programs at SNC. The program underscores a commitment to modernize the U.S. Army’s ISR capabilities in a timeframe aligned with the evolving demands of military operations.
