Finnish Border Guard Selects Bombardier Challenger 650 for Enhanced Border Surveillance.

The Finnish Border Guard has selected the Bombardier Challenger 650, modified by Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), to replace its aging Dornier 228 surveillance aircraft. The acquisition includes two aircraft based on Bombardier’s Challenger 650 business jet, which SNC will modify to meet the operational needs of the Finnish Border Guard. The $170 million contract was signed on June 27, 2024, in Helsinki. The new aircraft are expected to enter service in 2026 and 2027.
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The new Challenger 650s will support a variety of tasks, including monitoring land and sea borders, search and rescue operations, identifying ships in the Baltic Sea, and detecting maritime environmental damage (Picture source:  Bombardier)

The new surveillance aircraft will significantly enhance Finland’s ability to ensure border and maritime security, which is crucial in today’s unpredictable security environment, according to Major General Matti Sarasmaa, Chief of the Border and Coast Guard Division. Brigadier General Jari Tolppanen, head of the MVX program, expressed confidence that the program is progressing well, meeting performance goals within budget.

SNC’s solution was selected for its proven experience and ability to implement complex aircraft modifications. The company will carry out the modifications at its integration center in Hagerstown, Maryland. The new aircraft will be equipped with advanced technical systems and modern surveillance sensors, offering significant improvements in operating time and transport capacity compared to the aging Dornier 228 fleet.

The Finnish Parliament allocated funds for the acquisition in the 2023 budget, covering the cost of the two aircraft, their systems, training, technical support, and spare parts. The tender process, launched in April 2023, saw SNC’s RAPCON-X solution based on the Challenger 650 chosen over Dassault Aviation’s Falcon 2000LXS.

The new Challenger 650s will support a variety of tasks, including monitoring land and sea borders, search and rescue operations, identifying ships in the Baltic Sea, and detecting maritime environmental damage. Additionally, the aircraft will support other authorities, including the Finnish Defense Forces and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.

The Finnish Border Guard has a tradition of using surveillance aircraft registered in alphabetical order. The new Challenger aircraft will continue this tradition with the registrations OH-MVX and OH-MVY, symbolizing a new era in the aviation capabilities of the Finnish Border Guard. These aircraft are strategic assets designed to serve Finland for 30 years.

In a parallel development, Sweden has ordered a third GlobalEye airborne early warning platform from Bombardier, highlighting the growing interest in advanced surveillance solutions among Nordic countries. This agreement underscores Bombardier’s expanding presence in the defense sector, particularly in the Nordic region.