NATO selects Swedish Saab GlobalEye to replace US-made AWACS fleet

Ankara, Türkiye — NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced at the alliance's summit in Ankara that NATO will open formal negotiations with Swedish defense firm Saab to acquire up to ten GlobalEye surveillance aircraft, marking the end of an era for the alliance's airborne early warning capabilities.

Key Developments

• NATO will begin formal negotiations with Saab for up to ten GlobalEye aircraft
• The deal would replace NATO's fleet of 14 Boeing E-3A Sentry AWACS aircraft, in service since 1982
• This marks the first time since 1988 that a non-American manufacturer would handle NATO's core airborne surveillance mission

Retirement of the E-3A Sentry

The E-3A Sentry, easily recognized by its rotating radar dome mounted atop the fuselage, has flown NATO surveillance missions for more than four decades. Based on a modified Boeing 707 airframe, these aircraft have:

• Tracked hostile aircraft
• Coordinated allied air operations
• Patrolled NATO's eastern flank since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine

The fleet of 14 planes is stationed at NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen in Germany and has been aging, prompting years of consideration over a replacement.

Previous Attempts and Political Context

NATO originally selected Boeing's E-7A Wedgetail for the replacement in 2023. That plan collapsed after the U.S. Air Force scrapped its own Wedgetail order in 2025 in favor of investing more heavily in satellite-based surveillance. With its largest prospective customer withdrawing, NATO allies abandoned the six-aircraft Wedgetail purchase, arguing the program had lost its financial and strategic footing, and reopened the competition.

The selection of Saab's GlobalEye carries political significance. The announcement comes as President Donald Trump has repeatedly pressed NATO members to buy American-made defense equipment and criticized European reliance on U.S. security guarantees. Choosing a Swedish jet over an American option signals a notable shift in where some NATO members wish to direct their defense spending.

GlobalEye Capabilities

The GlobalEye offers significantly expanded capabilities compared to the E-3A from a single airframe:

• Radar: Saab's Erieye Extended Range radar, built into a ridge-shaped fairing along the top of the fuselage rather than a rotating dome
• Sensors: Additional suite of sensors for comprehensive surveillance
• Command and Control: Capable of directing operations across air, sea, and land simultaneously

The aircraft is mounted on a Bombardier Global 6500 business jet airframe, which is:

• Smaller, cheaper to operate, and easier to maintain than the E-3A's converted airliner frame
• Capable of 11 to 13 hours endurance
• Range exceeding 11,000 km (6,835 miles)

The radar suite is designed to detect low-observable and stealthy aircraft, drones, and both ballistic and hypersonic missiles, even in cluttered environments or under active jamming — a capability gap that has become increasingly urgent as Russia and other militaries field more advanced missile threats along NATO's borders.

Status of Negotiations

Saab's own statement makes clear this is not yet a finalized contract.

"At this point, Saab has not signed a contract or received an order related to the announcement," the company said.

Saab will proceed to formal negotiations with the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA), the alliance's purchasing arm, to convert the announcement into an actual contract.

"We are honoured and proud to support NATO in its next-generation AEW&C capability," said Micael Johansson, President and CEO of Saab. "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. We look forward to the next steps in the negotiations."

Operational History and Order Book

The GlobalEye has been in operational service since 2018 with the United Arab Emirates, which was the type's launch customer. Since then, Saab has built a growing order book among NATO members and partners:

| Customer | Order Details | |----------|---------------| | Sweden | Three aircraft for its own air force | | France | Contract signed December 2025 for two aircraft, with options for two more | | Canada | Announced May 2026 selection of GlobalEye over Boeing's Wedgetail and a competing bid from L3Harris; six aircraft worth more than $3.6 billion; plans to build roughly one-third of future GlobalEye production inside Canada through Bombardier's existing manufacturing base |