VIENNA — The NATO Support and Procurement Agency has chosen Sweden’s Saab and Canada’s Bombardier to modernize its fleet of Boeing E-3A Sentry aircraft, replacing them with the GlobalEye system, as reported by the French defense news outlet La Lettre and independently verified by Germany’s DPA.
This move, expected to be officially announced soon, signifies the first instance since 1982 where a non-Boeing aircraft will form the core of NATO’s airborne surveillance capabilities. This change concludes a lengthy acquisition process influenced by challenges in American defense production and a rising desire within Europe for greater strategic independence.
The selection of GlobalEye was not a foregone conclusion. As late as November 2023, NATO had awarded the contract for its aircraft replacement to Boeing’s E-7A Wedgetail without a competitive bidding process, citing that it was the only system that could meet the operational needs in a timely manner. Saab’s CEO, Micael Johansson, expressed concerns that the decision was rushed and prejudged before GlobalEye’s proposal was even considered.
The scenario changed when the U.S. Air Force excluded the E-7 from its 2026 fiscal year budget in June 2025, pointing to delays, budget overruns, and doubts about its effectiveness in high-threat areas. Instead, the U.S. opted for space-based surveillance and additional E-2D Hawkeye planes. By November 2025, the Netherlands and other European countries had abandoned their plan to purchase six Wedgetails, with the Dutch State Secretary for Defense, Gijs Tuinman, emphasizing the shift towards supporting European defense capabilities following the U.S. decision.
The GlobalEye system, which incorporates Saab’s Erieye Extended Range radar technology on a Bombardier Global 6000 or 6500 jet, can detect threats across air, sea, and land over distances greater than 550 kilometers. NATO’s procurement agency is reportedly looking at acquiring between 10 and 12 of these aircraft at an estimated cost of €550 million ($643 million) each, with total program costs expected to surpass €5 billion ($5.84 billion) before accounting for additional expenses related to operations, training, and infrastructure. Saab has stated that this system could be operational by NATO’s 2031 target, if not sooner.
Political support for the GlobalEye system has been growing. France committed to purchasing two aircraft with an option for two more in December 2025. During Saab’s earnings call in the first quarter of 2026, Johansson noted considerable interest from Poland and Germany, and Canada is contemplating acquiring up to six GlobalEyes.
However, the deal has not been finalized yet. Saab’s media relations head, Mattias Rådström, informed AeroTime that no formal contract has been signed and the decision remains NATO’s to announce. At this stage, a change in outcome appears unlikely.
Rudy Ruitenberg in Paris contributed to this report.
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Jamal Peterson reports on defense, aerospace, and tech policy. With a military background and a strategic mind, he dissects complex subjects with clarity, offering readers sharp, reliable insights.
