Eleven NATO Allies to jointly procure Saab GlobalEye as new AWACS
Eleven Allied nations will jointly procure the Saab GlobalEye as NATO’s new Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS), according to an announcement made at NATO’s Defence Industry Forum in Ankara. The decision was officially announced by NATO on 7 July 2026.
The 11 participating Allies are: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Romania and Sweden. The programme aims to replace part of the Alliance’s long-serving and ageing Boeing E-3 Sentry fleet. NATO did not disclose the number of aircraft, the contract value or the delivery timeline.
Multi-domain surveillance
NATO said the GlobalEye will provide “advanced, multi-domain surveillance across air, land and sea from a single platform.” The system is expected to contribute to detecting threats such as drone swarms, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles.
What is GlobalEye?
According to Saab, the GlobalEye is an airborne early warning and control aircraft that integrates the long-range Erieye ER active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar onto a Bombardier Global business-jet airframe. From a single platform it can simultaneously track air, sea and land targets. The aircraft is already in service with several operators; the NATO decision could open the door to wider adoption across the Alliance.
Why it matters
Early warning aircraft detect air and sea activity tens of kilometres beyond the battlefield, providing early warning and command-and-control for fighters and air-defence systems. After decades of service, the need to modernise the E-3 Sentry fleet has pushed NATO toward a next-generation solution. Describing the project as “an example of close transatlantic industrial cooperation,” the announcement points to contributions from European, Canadian and U.S. industry.
Sources
- NATO – “NATO’s new Airborne Warning and Control System is announced” – 7 July 2026. Used for the scope of the decision, the list of 11 Allies, the E-3 replacement and official quotes. Link
- Saab corporate product information – Used for the GlobalEye’s platform and radar configuration.
