NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced on Tuesday at the alliance's leaders' summit in Ankara, Turkey, that the Western military alliance plans to open formal negotiations to acquire up to 10 Saab-manufactured GlobalEye early warning surveillance aircraft.
The newly selected GlobalEye system will replace NATO's aging fleet of Boeing E-3 AWACs, which are currently nearing the end of their operational lifespan, according to reports from CBC News and the Toronto Star.
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The procurement initiative is a joint effort backed by 11 allied nations, including Canada, to enhance situational awareness against sophisticated military threats across land, sea, and air ecosystems.
Built on a Bombardier Global 6500 executive jet manufactured in Toronto, the airborne early warning and control system integrates Saab's Erieye Extended Range radar with advanced sensors and a multi-domain command and control infrastructure.
Advanced Capabilities
The alliance stated that the high-tech aircraft will offer advanced capabilities to detect and track highly complex threats, including low-observable targets, drone swarms, cruise missiles, and ballistic or hypersonic weapons, even under heavy electronic jamming.
The multinational deal follows an announcement in late May by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who stated that Canada intends to purchase up to six GlobalEye aircraft to bolster the Royal Canadian Air Force's domestic, international, and Arctic surveillance operations.
The announcement from the summit could potentially draw criticism from U. S.
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President Donald Trump, who has frequently pressed European allies to increase domestic defense spending and prioritize buying American-made military equipment.
Saab confirmed that while a formal contract has not yet been signed, the company will now enter official negotiations with the NATO Support and Procurement Agency to finalize an order.
"We are honoured and proud to support NATO in its next-generation AEW&C capability.
We are confident that GlobalEye is the right choice for the Alliance, delivering proven capability, adaptability and long-term operational advantage.
Today’s announcement clearly positions GlobalEye as the world-leading solution for advanced airborne early warning and control.
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We look forward to the next steps in the negotiations," said Micael Johansson, President and CEO of Saab.
