The announcement was made during the NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum in Ankara, where NATO and the Swedish government confirmed plans to begin negotiations with Saab for the purchase of up to 10 GlobalEye aircraft.
The move marks a major step in modernising NATO s airborne surveillance and command capabilities as the alliance responds to evolving security challenges across Europe.
What is the GlobalEye AEW&C System?
The GlobalEye is an advanced Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft equipped with long-range radar, electronic sensors and command-and-control systems. Operating at high altitudes, it can detect aircraft, ships, missiles and other threats over vast distances, including low-flying targets that are difficult for ground-based radar systems to identify.
The aircraft also provides real-time battlefield awareness and supports military commanders by coordinating air, sea and ground operations. Swedish Defence Minister Pål Jonson said the growing security challenges facing Europe require more advanced surveillance capabilities.
"In a serious security situation, the ability to detect threats early and control operations in the air, at sea and on the ground is becoming increasingly important," Jonson said. He added that GlobalEye offers the advanced situational awareness needed to respond to threats ranging from drones to cruise missiles.
Replacing NATO s Eyes in the Sky
NATO currently operates 14 Boeing E-3A Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft, which have been in service since 1982. These aircraft are operated directly by NATO rather than by individual member states and are widely known as the alliance s "eyes in the sky."
The selection of GlobalEye follows NATO s unsuccessful attempt to replace the ageing fleet with Boeing s E-7A Wedgetail. That programme was abandoned in 2025 after the US Air Force removed the aircraft from its future procurement plans.
Advanced Surveillance Capabilities
Saab says the GlobalEye is the only AEW&C platform capable of providing simultaneous long-range surveillance across air, land and sea from a single aircraft.
Built on Bombardier s Global 6500 business jet platform, the aircraft combines active and passive sensor technologies to deliver real-time intelligence.
Allies will jointly procure up to 10 Saab GlobalEye aircraft to replace the E-3 fleet, add up to five Tritons, and expand tanker and airlift fleets. Click image for more.https://t.co/DgpFNVtbIc
— UK Defence Journal (@UKDefJournal) July 7, 2026
According to Saab, GlobalEye can:
Detect and track targets more than 550 kilometres away. Stay airborne for over 11 hours. Monitor air, land and maritime threats simultaneously. Deliver lower operating and maintenance costs compared to older surveillance aircraft.
By comparison, NATO s current Boeing E-3A aircraft can track targets at distances exceeding 400 kilometres and remain airborne for approximately 10 hours.
Procurement Backed by 11 NATO Members
The proposed acquisition is supported by 11 NATO member countries, including Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Romania and Sweden.
Although no final contract has been signed, Saab will now begin formal negotiations with the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA). Saab CEO Micael Johansson said deliveries could begin as early as 2030 if an agreement is finalized in the near future.
The purchase is expected to significantly strengthen NATO s surveillance, early warning and command capabilities for decades to come.
