ANKARA, Turkey — NATO has announced plans to begin formal negotiations with Swedish defense company Saab for the acquisition of up to 10 GlobalEye Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft as part of the alliance's efforts to modernize its airborne surveillance capabilities.
The announcement was made by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on July 7, 2026, during the NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum in Ankara. The proposed acquisition is intended to replace NATO's fleet of 14 Boeing E-3A Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft, which have been in service since the early 1980s and are based at Geilenkirchen Air Base.
The procurement is part of NATO's initial Allied Future Surveillance and Control (iAFSC) project, which aims to provide the alliance with a next-generation airborne surveillance and command platform.
Although NATO allies have signed a joint procurement agreement, Saab has confirmed that it has not yet received a signed contract or a formal purchase order. The next phase will focus on negotiations covering acquisition terms, delivery schedules, and industrial arrangements with the NATO Support and Procurement Agency.
GlobalEye Selected After E-7 Wedgetail Plan Ended
The selection of the GlobalEye follows NATO's earlier plan to acquire Boeing E-7A Wedgetail aircraft. The alliance had previously intended to purchase six E-7 aircraft, but several NATO member states withdrew from the program in late 2025 after the project lost its financial and strategic basis following indications that the previous U.S. administration planned to cancel the program.
According to Saab President and CEO Micael Johansson, NATO's Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) evaluated available alternatives and concluded that the GlobalEye could address the alliance's future surveillance requirements.
Johansson said the aircraft was selected based on affordability, operational capability, and the ability to deliver the platform within NATO's required timeframe.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson described the decision as an important achievement for Sweden and confirmed that a letter of intent has already been signed by 11 participating NATO countries.
GlobalEye Capabilities
The Saab GlobalEye is based on the Bombardier Global 6000/6500 business jet platform and combines airborne surveillance, command, and control capabilities in a single aircraft.
Unlike the E-3 Sentry, which uses a rotating radar dome mounted on a modified commercial airliner, the GlobalEye uses Saab's Erieye Extended Range (ER) active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar installed above the aircraft's fuselage.
The aircraft is designed to conduct simultaneous surveillance across air, maritime, and land domains from a single platform.
According to Saab, the Erieye ER radar offers long-range detection of up to approximately 550 kilometers and is capable of tracking low-observable targets, drones, and missiles while operating in environments affected by electronic jamming and ground clutter. The radar provides high update rates to improve situational awareness during operations.
The platform also integrates additional sensors and a multi-domain command-and-control system, allowing operators to monitor multiple types of targets over large areas.
Powered by the fuel-efficient Bombardier Global business jet, the GlobalEye can remain on station for missions lasting up to 11 hours. The aircraft can also operate from shorter runways and is expected to offer lower operating costs than larger legacy AWACS platforms.
Production and Delivery Timeline
NATO officials said the procurement supports the alliance's long-term modernization of its airborne early warning capability.
Prime Minister Kristersson stated that GlobalEye aircraft will begin operating from Swedish bases by 2027. Saab is expanding production capacity at its Gothenburg facility to support future deliveries.
Johansson said the company is investing in manufacturing to meet NATO's operational requirements. Saab has indicated that the first aircraft could be integrated into NATO's wider surveillance network around 2030, although final delivery schedules will depend on the outcome of contract negotiations.
Growing International Interest
The NATO procurement follows increasing international demand for the GlobalEye platform.
France finalized a $1.3 billion agreement in December 2025 for two aircraft with options for additional units, while Canada opened negotiations in May 2026 for its own acquisition. Other NATO members, including Germany and Poland, have also expressed interest in the system.
The joint procurement approach allows participating allies to share costs while developing a common airborne surveillance capability across the alliance.
The proposed NATO fleet acquisition is estimated to be worth nearly $5 billion. However, the final number of aircraft, contract value, production schedule, and delivery timeline will be confirmed after negotiations between Saab and the NATO Support and Procurement Agency are completed.
Source: saab.
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