What opportunities remain for European airborne early warning requirements?

In light of reports, and refutation from Saab, that the GlobalEye could be the replacement for NATO’s Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) requirement after it shelved plans to procure six E-7 Wedgetail aircraft in November, opportunities for AWACS replacements for European armed forces more widely remain.

Since the announced procurement withdrawal last year, European firms have expressed interest in filling NATO’s AWACS platform gap. Both Airbus and Saab told Shephard that their companies were interested in answering NATO’s search for alternative E-3A Sentry fleet replacement options with their C295 and GlobalEye platforms, respectively.

Saab CEO Micael Johansson previously noted during the company’s Q3 earnings call that Saab saw strong sales momentum for the GlobalEye from NATO, adding there was interest in a “number of aircraft”.

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Since the announcement from French media, however, Saab has rebuffed claims that its GlobalEye aircraft had been selected by NATO – noting that while conversations had taken place with the alliance, no contract has been signed or order received.

NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) had initially intended to purchase E-7 Wedgetail aircraft in 2023 before halting the procurement in 2025. As noted by Shephard Defence Insight, other options that could be considered for procurement include Northrop Grumman’s E-2D aircraft and L3Harris’ AEW-fitted Bombardier Global 6500 AEW&C platform.

NATO is studying a range of new technologies and options to replace the AWACS aircraft (E-3), which could include systems in the air, on land, at sea, in space and in cyberspace, according to NATO.

Its airborne early warning requirements could be met through a combination of national, multinational and NATO-funded solutions, as it looks to acquire as many as its original E-3 fleet size of 14 aircraft. The alliance intends to retire its AWACS fleet by 2035.

L3Harris recently announced to Flight Global that a country has selected its AERIS X solution on a Bombardier Global 6500 platform to meet its AEW&C requirements. The company told Shephard in February that it was eyeing future international opportunities – which included NATO’s AWACS replacement as well as “individual European nations”.

European market opportunities remain rife

According to Shephard Defence Insight, there is around US$15 billion worth of market opportunities for AEW&C platforms outside of NATO’s procurement plans. Of this, $11 billion is for North America, followed by $2 billion for Europe, while $1.8 billion remains for the Middle East and $500 million for the Indo-Pacific. 

In April 2025, the Swedish government submitted a proposal to authorise the sale of up to four GlobalEye aircraft to Denmark. The potential procurement is intended to cover a possible future contract that will aim to support coverage of the Arctic.

At present, Denmark does not have any aircraft operating in an AEW&C capacity, making this potential purchase a significant step for the kingdom’s aerial capabilities.

Shephard has also forecast a potential opportunity for the UK to procure an additional two E-7 Wedgetail aircraft. In 2019, the UK Ministry of Defence awarded Boeing a £1.98 billion (US$2.4 billion) contract to procure five E-7 Wedgetails, which was later cut down to three.

While the E-7 programme for the UK is facing significant delays, the country has still paid for five radars despite cutting its order. The Strategic Defence Review, published in July 2025, also recommended that more aircraft should be ordered, depending on funding which is due to be outlined by the upcoming Defence Investment Plan.

Related Programmes in Defence Insight

GlobalEye [Denmark]

E-7 Wedgetail (Second Order) [UK]

Related Equipment in Defence Insight

GlobalEye (Global 6000)

C295