Army Completes Divestment of A-ISR Turboprop Fleet, Transitioning to HADES Program

The U.S. Army has completed the divestment of its aerial intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (A-ISR) turboprop fleet, which included the Airborne Reconnaissance Low-Multifunction (ARL-M), Guardrail, and Enhanced Medium Altitude Reconnaissance and Surveillance System-Multiple Intelligence (EMARSS) systems.

The divestment, beginning in fiscal year 2023 and concluding in fiscal year 2025, aligns with the Army's modernization strategy towards deep sensing capabilities. The legacy fleet, operational since the 1970s, has been replaced by the High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES), which aims to enhance speed, range, payload, and endurance for aerial ISR.

The first Bombardier Global 6500 aircraft for HADES was delivered in 2024, with prototypes expected in fiscal years 2026 and 2027. This transition reflects the Army's commitment to modernizing its ISR capabilities to meet contemporary operational demands.