The U.S. Army has contracted MAG Aerospace and L3Harris Technologies to outfit Bombardier Global 6500 aircraft with intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) sensors for the Theater Level High Altitude Expeditionary Next Airborne ISR-Radar venture (ATHENA-R). This move is part of the Army’s overhaul of aerial reconnaissance, shifting from Cold War-era limitations to capabilities allowing deeper distances and higher altitudes. The contract’s value has not been disclosed, and it reflects the Pentagon’s preparation for potential conflict with Russia and China.
  

Key Points: 

1. MAG Aerospace and L3Harris Technologies will equip the aircraft with advanced spying technologies under the ATHENA-R project.
2. The new ISR technology is part of the Army’s transition to modern aerial reconnaissance, with a focus on long-range targeting and deep sensing.
3. L3Harris is the ninth-largest defense contractor globally and is also involved in the Army’s Airborne Reconnaissance and Electronic Warfare System (ARES) in the Indo-Pacific.
4. The contract aligns with the Pentagon’s strategy to enhance capabilities against near-peer threats like Russia and China, focusing on finding, monitoring, and targeting with greater distance and precision.
5. Both MAG Aerospace and L3Harris announced their partnership last year, and they emphasized readiness to deliver the necessary technology to support the Army’s mission needs.

Source: https://www.defensenews.com/intel-geoint/isr/2023/08/22/mag-l3harris-to-supply-army-with-athena-equipped-spy-planes/