The Canadian authorities has introduced that it’s getting into into discussions with Saab for the provision of the GlobalEye AEW&C plane, beating out the American Boeing and L3Harris.
On Might 27, 2026, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney introduced on the CANSEC exposition, Canada’s largest defence and safety commerce present, that Canada would procure the GlobalEye AEW&C plane. For any readers who’re James Bond followers, Carney did mistakenly name the plane “Saab’s Goldeneye,” although he rapidly corrected himself earlier than explaining the GlobalEye’s capabilities and their suitability to Canada’s wants, each industrial and army.
To this finish, the partnership between Canada and Saab goals to proceed the manufacturing of the International 6500 plane for integration with Saab’s Erieye radar system, with “at least one-third of the projected fleet of GlobalEyes” to be in-built Canada. Which means that “not less than 40 plane” are to be in-built Canada, for Canada and its allies over the following 15 years.
Saab is aiming for the GlobalEye to be the alternative for quite a few AEW&C plane around the globe, with many states working older variants based mostly on the Saab 340 turboprop plane. At present no agency order has been signed, however this nonetheless marks a major step ahead in Canada’s desired acquisition of an AEW&C functionality, with the Royal Canadian Air Power expressing an intention to function six plane based mostly on the operational necessities and anticipated serviceability charges of the plane.
This announcement is critical because it beats out each American choices, notably the E-7 Wedgetail constructed by Boeing, in addition to the AERIS X produced by L3Harris, which can be based mostly on the International 6500 airframe. Regardless of the E-7 being a particularly highly effective and profitable AEW&C plane, with Australia’s being in excessive demand for supporting NATO and Ukraine, the plane has suffered from procurement woes in recent times.
On board techniques obsolescence, partially because of an inactive manufacturing line previous to Britain’s order in 2019, alongside issues inside Boeing have delayed the supply of plane to the UK. In addition to this, U.S. authorities plans to make use of house based mostly AEW&C techniques nearly killed the American order of plane, with uncertainty round American assist resulting in NATO cancelling their order of Wedgetails.
Whereas, L3Harris’ design regarded a extra possible choice because of its use of a Canadian plane and American on board techniques, permitting for a greater integration with NORAD, in addition to its proposed air-to-air refueling functionality. Nonetheless, the GlobalEye is a confirmed design that represents nearer integration inside Europe’s defence ecosystem, which Canada needs, following threats from the Trump administration over Canada’s sovereignty, along with the numerous variety of tariffs positioned on Canada by the U.S.
Curiously, press releases by the Canadian authorities spotlight the plane as a lift to Canada’s contributions to the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD), possible geared toward placating a number of the Trump administration’s ire. But the deal nonetheless marks a major step away from the U.S. within the defence sphere.
Nice information for Canadian jobs. The vast majority of the Canadian-made Saab/Bombardier GlobalEyes might be for export & eligible for CCC/EDC financing. Making the GlobalEye much more enticing to smaller nations presently flying legacy Saab turboprop AEW plane. pic.twitter.com/e8YHiLRS5a
— Alex McColl (@AlexRMcColl) Might 27, 2026
On the proposed procurement, Prime Minister Carney acknowledged that:
“The primary job of the federal government is to maintain Canadians secure. Our authorities is defending Canadians and supporting our Allies with an strategy that transforms defence procurement. With our new technique, we’re constructing our financial system and creating careers within the expert trades, science, and engineering. The GlobalEye procurement will assist us safe our North and construct our financial system without delay.”
GlobalEye would offer the Royal Canadian Air Power with superior airborne surveillance capabilities permitting the nation to higher detect, monitor, and reply to threats at lengthy vary, within the Arctic area of Canada’s North.
Micael Johansson, President and CEO of Saab, acknowledged that:
“We welcome Canada’s choice to enter into discussions with Saab as the popular provider of the longer term Canadian AEW&C functionality. GlobalEye presents confirmed functionality for the Royal Canadian Air Power, sovereign possession for Canada and complete and expert work for Canadian business.”
Alongside this announcement, Saab has introduced that it’s increasing its relationship with Canadian defence firm CAE, which produces flight simulators to airways and the army. With the AEW&C plane talks, Saab and CAE will work collectively on producing coaching techniques to permit the plane to enter into service easily.
To this finish Matt Bromberg, President and Chief Govt Officer of CAE, acknowledged that:
“CAE’s world-class defence experience might be vital to enabling a high-performance AEW&C functionality for Canada…Constructing on our longstanding collaboration and belief with Saab, this settlement displays our shared dedication to delivering progressive, built-in options that strengthen operational efficiency and assist Canada’s defence priorities.”
GlobalEye AEW&C
Saab’s GlobalEye is constructed on the Canadian-manufactured Bombardier International 6500 plane, supporting home Canadian manufacturing, and it’s fitted with Saab’s Erieye radar system that has exploded in recognition on the worldwide market. Saab AEW&C merchandise are in service internationally, with Poland, Thailand, Sweden, Ukraine, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Greece, Mexico and the UAE presently working them, with some nations having used them in fight. As well as, France has lately ordered two GlobalEye plane, with the platform additionally a robust contender for changing the E-3A Sentry in use by NATO.
In accordance with Saab the GlobalEye is the one AEW&C plane available on the market that may present “long-range air, sea and land surveillance in actual time, from a single platform.” Nonetheless, different AEW&C plane with multi-role radars also can carry out floor and maritime surveillance capabilities, even when in a extra restricted capability.
The GlobalEye is fitted with the Leonardo Seaspray 7500E maritime surveillance radar that utilises synthetic-aperture radar and ground-oriented shifting goal indication modes permitting for efficient maritime monitoring. Alongside this, the plane additionally carries an electro-optical/infrared sensor, permitting for visible monitoring of hostels, making the GlobalEye an efficient all spherical surveillance platform.
It does include some disadvantages compared to the bigger E-7 Wedgetail, for instance, missing the flexibility to carry out air-to-air refueling (AAR), which is crucial for AEW&C plane throughout lengthy operations. AAR of AEW&C plane was important for NATO’s air marketing campaign over Libya, permitting E-3 Sentries to remain on station offering AWACS assist for longer mission durations. The GlobalEye has a 12 hour endurance, while the Wedgetail has flown fight missions in extra of 17 hours, because of its AAR functionality.
The Wedgetail additionally makes use of the Northrop Grumman MESA electronically scanned radar, offering full 360-degree protection and a detection vary exceeding 600 kilometers permitting the plane to detect plane and maritime craft with the identical radar. GlobalEye lacks a full 360 diploma view because the fore and rear 30 diploma arcs are blind to the plane. This can be a extreme vulnerability that adversaries can exploit if the plane will not be managed fastidiously, as approaching plane and missiles may keep within the plane’s blind spot to attain a kill from lengthy vary.
Carney authorities in talks to purchase GlobalEye spy planes from Swedish Saab to defend our Arctic, rejecting US bids. Hypothesis is rising that Canada will purchase Saab Gripen jets over American F-35s.
Canada is lowering reliance on the USA and asserting independence. pic.twitter.com/OQKch8FKXC
— Riley Donovan (@valdombre) Might 27, 2026
The GlobalEye additionally has a decrease variety of mission consoles compared to the E-7, being outfitted with between 5 and 7, compared to the ten on the Wedgetail. Command and management is a very powerful function of the AEW&C plane, with on board air battle managers liable for deconfliction of plane of their space, assigning missions and offering early warning of oncoming threats. The smaller variety of mission consoles for this function does restrict the effectiveness of the GlobalEye in offering this functionality, although it is only one of many commerce offs that include a less expensive and smaller platform.
Canada has determined to maneuver ahead with Saab GlobalEye as its new airborne functionality for Airborne Early Warning and Management. I stay up for welcoming Canada into the GlobalEye household.
GlobalEye is a extremely fashionable and succesful system that now has earned the belief of a fourth…
— Ulf Kristersson (@SwedishPM) Might 27, 2026
A small variety of AEW&C plane can’t be in two locations without delay, and the general early warning functionality could be hampered by upkeep troubles taking plane out of operation. A lot of GlobalEyes as compared could make up for this, offering extra protection as a collective group, compared to the bigger plane. As with all platforms utilized by each army on the planet, capabilities are trade-offs, and Canada in looking for the GlobalEye is making one of the best choice based mostly on its army and political wants.
An Abridged Historical past of Canadian AEW&C
Canada has had involvement with AEW&C initiatives previous to this announcement, having been a key participant in NATO’s use of the E-3A Sentry. NATO commanders had desired an AEW&C platform to observe the Interior German border and supply early warning of Soviet plane approaching, in order that NATO fighters may scramble and intercept them. There was additionally a requirement for an plane that would present a restricted maritime patrol functionality, to safe Europe’s communications to the USA and Canada.
NATO AWACS callsign NATO029 (Boeing E-3A Sentry, reg LX-N90453) has been holding in steady oval racetrack orbits over jap Turkey close to Konya airbase (KYA) for greater than 8 hours now… regular at ~35,000 ft . Not a brief CAP; that is prolonged loiter.
long-duration orbits… pic.twitter.com/2yGDfqeNsT
— Fahad Naim (@Fahadnaimb) March 14, 2026
Consequently, NATO went to Boeing for the E-3A Sentry, with the worth of 18 airframes cut up between the U.S., West Germany, Italy, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Turkey, Luxemburg, Portugal, Greece and naturally Canada. These plane, based mostly at Geilenkirchen in Germany, are manned by crews from all of the participant nations. They shaped NATO’s Airborne Early Warning and Management Power (NAEW&CF) and had been ultimately joined by seven E-3D plane from the UK, growing the efficiency of the general power.
Canadian E-3A operators would serve on the plane all through the closing years of the Chilly Battle and into the early 2000s, with Canadians offering a necessary service throughout NATO’s Libya intervention, Operation Unified Protector (OUP). Canadian air battle managers on quite a few events efficiently vectored NATO plane to targets in Libya that had been concentrating on civilians and insurgent positions.
On one such event, the Canadian frigate HMCS Charlottetown detected proof of Gaddafi’s forces attacking civilians close to the town of Misrata. The warship then forwarded this info to the Canadian weapons controller on an E-3A AWACS plane, who ordered two Royal Air Power Tornados and 4 Canadian CF-188s to efficiently prosecute the goal.
On one other event, on Might 30, 2011, the Charlottetown as soon as once more recognized a menace to Misrata, this time from a loyalist car firing rockets into the town, and very like the earlier engagement, relayed the knowledge to a Canadian AWACS controller. As soon as once more, the menace was engaged by CF-188s, which ended the rocket menace to the town. General, through the 221 days of OUP from March 2011 to October 2011, Canadians contributed 1,961 days in theatre in direct assist of the marketing campaign.
Nonetheless, that very same yr the Canadian authorities determined to withdraw itself from the NAEW&CF citing an absence of worth for cash. Extra particularly, Canadian officers had been angered after they had requested the usage of NATO AWACS to observe the airspace of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.
They felt snubbed that as a paying accomplice they may not use the plane after they felt it important to guard Canadian lives through the worldwide occasion. The worry of plane getting used to disrupt the video games was a real menace following the 9/11 assaults just a few years prior. Compared, the UK flew a number of air surveillance sorties throughout its internet hosting of the 2012 summer season Olympics.
Consequently, the Canadian authorities absolutely withdrew the nation from this system saving $60 million a yr, with the final flight crew leaving Geilenkirchen in 2014. This was not the tip of the story although, as 4 years later a brand new Canadian authorities reversed the choice to finish Canada’s involvement in this system.
From 2018 onwards Canada started contributing once more however at a decreased price that gave them much less affect over AWACS choice making. Canada continues to be build up its involvement within the NAEW&CF and it’s towards this backdrop that the choice was made in 2024 for Canada to hunt its personal plane, for its personal wants outdoors of the NATO power. It will enable Canada to higher defend its huge airspace from the menace posed by the Russian Federation, while giving Canada an all facet detection plane, best for monitoring the excessive North.
