DRDO has selected the Bombardier Global 6500 ultra-long-range business jet as the platform for India’s ₹10,000 crore ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance) program, approved by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) on July 3, 2025, under a larger ₹1.05 lakh crore modernization package chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Recent reports from December 16-18, 2025, confirm the Indian Air Force (IAF) will induct three such aircraft, equipped with indigenous sensors from DRDO’s Centre for Airborne Systems, offering 18-hour endurance, 51,000-foot ceiling, and high-altitude performance ideal for Himalayan borders. This bolsters real-time battlefield awareness, electronic intelligence, and precision strikes against threats from China and Pakistan, enhancing India’s strategic deterrence and self-reliance in contested environments. Deliveries are slated within five years post-contract, bridging critical surveillance gaps.