Saab’s GlobalEye gains ground as Canada’s aircraft procurement tilts towards Europe
Saab's GlobalEye airborne early warning and control aircraft is gaining traction with global buyers. (Photo: Saab)
Canada’s interest in negotiating a procurement of Saab’s GlobalEye airborne early warning and control aircraft signals its readiness to reduce its reliance on US defence technology as trade tensions with its North American neighbour mount.
The Canadian Defence Investment Agency has entered into an agreement in the form of a non-binding term sheet to negotiate the potential procurement of six GlobalEye for the Royal Canadian Air Force, Swedish defence company Saab announced on 25 September 2026.
If Canada proceeds, it said in a product briefing in August 2026 that it is committed to setting up a production line with a local partner in Canada that could produce up to a third of the global demand for GlobalEye aircraft over the next 15 years.
Canada’s move to procure the European aircraft is part of its defence procurement diversification strategy, which includes building new partnerships with EU member countries and the UK.
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“The procurement of the Saab GlobalEye is understandable, given the current political climate between the US administration and the Carney government. It permits Canada to both signal to the US a willingness to diversify the fleet with a non-US system and equally backs its own industry,” Christoph Bergs, research analyst for air power at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), told Shephard.
Surveillance technology for air, land and sea
GlobalEye is based on Canada’s Bombardier Global 6500 business jet platform, which Saab has modified with its Erieye Extended Range radar. The technology, housed in a 10m structure above the fuselage, is capable of simultaneous air, land and sea detection. Operating at a maximum height of 37,000ft, the technology can detect and track small targets such as uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAV), as well as larger objects including destroyers and aircraft carriers.
Such air surveillance technologies are becoming an important part of national and international defence systems as the threat of long-range cruise missile attacks grows.
GlobalEye is particularly suited to Canada’s surveillance needs because of its vast geography, which spans a large area of the northern and polar regions, said Bergs.
Canada may however face challenges integrating GlobalEye into the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), a bi-national defence organisation with the US which conducts aerospace warning and control in North America. “Not only would this require US acceptance of the platform; it would necessitate specific industrial arrangements permitting the onboarding of the system into NORAD,” said Bergs.
GlobalEye continues to attract growing interest from prospective customers around the world, with the Netherlands signing a letter of intent in September 2026 to potentially acquire one aircraft. Earlier, in July, 11 NATO allies announced plans to jointly procure up to 10 GlobalEye aircraft to replace part of NATO’s ageing E-3A fleet, with formal negotiations with Saab now under way.
The manufacturer said during an equipment briefing in the same month that it has a new customer in the Middle East. It declined to name the buyer but added that delivery of the first system will take place in 2030. Another Middle Eastern buyer is the UAE, which has taken delivery of five GlobalEye aircraft.
A European alternative to legacy AWACS
Saab may find more customers for the aircraft through NATO as it seeks to replace part of its Boeing’s ageing E-3 Sentry airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft fleet and update its Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS). The Saab GlobalEye is a cheaper and compact system, noted Bergs, and “is often considered as a European alternative for nations looking to onboard a national AEW platform – or to establish a revamped NATO AWACS fleet.”
European customers that have committed to buying GlobalEyes are France and Sweden. France has ordered two GlobalEye aircraft with the option to purchase two more. Expected delivery of those aircraft continues to be between 2029 and 2032, a Saab spokesperson confirmed. Sweden has ordered two aircraft with delivery expected in 2027.
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