Today, the first of four high-speed Global 5000 jets was handed over to the German Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) Special Mission Wing to be operated for VIP transport and Medical Evacuation (MedEvac) flights. The special ceremony in Berlin, Germany, was attended by government officials and executives from Bombardier, German Operating Aircraft Leasing GmbH & CO.KG (GOAL), Rolls-Royce Germany, Lufthansa Bombardier Aviation Services and Lufthansa Technik.

The Global 5000 jets were selected by the Federal Office for Defence Technology and Procurement in Germany (BWB) as part of a broader agreement regarding the modernization of the MoD’s Special Mission Wing. Lufthansa Technik AG of Hamburg, Germany, is the prime contractor for the overall agreement, which also includes the purchase of Airbus aircraft and technical support for all new aircraft types. The new Global 5000 aircraft will replace the MoD’s existing fleet of Challenger 601 aircraft.

“Bombardier has a long standing relationship with the German Ministry of Defence, a Challenger aircraft operator for more than 20 years. We are delighted that they have once again selected Bombardier aircraft for their Special Mission Wing and to fly German government and parliamentary officials,” said Michel Bourgeois, President, Specialized and Amphibious Aircraft & Military Aviation Training, Bombardier Aerospace. “The Global 5000 jet was chosen by the German government as the best suited aircraft to meet the BWB tender’s 12-seat jet requirement because of its many attributes, including its intercontinental range and ability to reconfigure the interior to MedEvac capabilities when required.”

Bombardier’s Global Completion Centre in Montréal, Canada, is responsible for completing the four Global 5000 aircraft, and Lufthansa Bombardier Aviation Services in Berlin, Germany, has been contracted by the prime contractor, Lufthansa Technik, to provide technical support for the jets.