Writer

Charlotte Bailey

NATO has officially selected Saab’s GlobalEye platform—a missionized Bombardier Global 6500 business jet—as its next ‘eyes in the sky’ solution. In a move set to end over four decades of reliance on U.S.-originated systems, NATO secretary general Mark Rutte on Tuesday confirmed the alliance will begin negotiations with Saab to buy up to 10 GlobalEye Airborne Early Warning &amp; Control (AEW&amp;C) aircraft.
If the deal is finalized, Sweden-based Saab will have won the contract over U.S. alternatives such as&nbsp;the Boeing E-7A Wedgetail and L3Harris-modified AERIS platform. NATO states have increasingly signalled an intent to reallocate their increased defense spending amid sustained criticism from the Trump Administration—as evidenced by <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2026-05-27/canada-choses-saab-bombardier-globaleye-aewc-platform">Canada's selection of the GlobalEye platform</a> in May.
Saab president and CEO Micael Johansson is “confident that GlobalEye is the right choice for the Alliance, delivering proven capability, adaptability and long-term operational advantage.” The selection builds on other existing firm orders for GlobalEye from the UAE, Sweden, and France.
NATO, which is holding a summit meeting in the Turkish capital Ankara this week, first identified the need to replace its ageing Boeing E-3A Sentries—modified Boeing 707s—in 2016, declaring at the time that “by 2035, the alliance needs to have a follow-on capability” to its 14 legacy assets. These aircraft have been in service since 1982, with what NATO described as a “large-scale mission and audio system modernization effort” ongoing to ensure the E3A's operational viability until 2035.
<h2>Wedgetail Woes and European Investment</h2>
NATO’s pivot to GlobalEye follows an uncertain procurement process initially centred around the E-7A Wedgetail, which is a modified Boeing 737 platform. In November 2023, a consortium of seven NATO partners announced it was to collectively acquire six units, with the first aircraft expected to reach initial operational capability by 2031. This followed the selection of the E-7 by the U.S. Air Force earlier that year.
However, following the USAF’s cancellation of the E-7 program in July 2025—which cited escalating costs and survivability concerns—NATO also abandoned its E-7 acquisition intentions in November. At the time, the Dutch ministry of defense highlighted that the U.S. withdrawal had prompted “significant changes” to the AEW&amp;Cs replacement program. Dutch state secretary Gijs Tuiman added that “the withdrawal of the U.S. demonstrates the importance of investing as much as possible in the European industry.”
Although the Pentagon subsequently signalled its intention to continue funding the E-7 program in May, it seems NATO’s long-lasting partnership with a Boeing-built platform may be over.
Another contender for the contract was U.S. defense contractor L3Harris Technologies, offering <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2026-02-13/l3harris-begin-modification-work-upcoming-korean-aewcs">AERIS</a>: a Global 6500-based solution developed with Israel Aerospace Industries. In February, L3Harris principal for international business development Jason Whitford told AIN he believed Korea’s AERIS selection and technology transfer agreement could be “a winning model in other places as well.” L3Harris has been approached for comment.

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

NATO To Order Up To 10 Saab GlobalEye AEW&C Aircraft

Confirmed selection of Saab's system announced at NATO's Ankara summit

NATO has officially selected Saab’s GlobalEye as its next ‘eyes in the sky’ solution in a move set to end over four decades of reliance on US-built solutions.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Curt Epstein

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

The OEM is well on its way to meeting its target output

Embraer’s Q2 Deliveries Strongest in 16 Years

Hanneke Weitering

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

Wingless multicopter shapes certification strategy

SkyDrive Builds Its Case for SD-05 eVTOL Certification

Chad Trautvetter

To date, Gulfstream aircraft have achieved 815 speed records fleet-wide

Gulfstream G800 Goes the Distance on Record Flights

Gulfstream, Bombardier, Dassault, and Airbus offer luxurious means of traveling the globe.

Flagship Ultra-Long-Range Private Jets: Gulfstream G700, Bombardier Global 8000, & Dassault Falcon 10X

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

Donated Swedish C/D variants in 2027 will precede delivery of new-build fighters 

Ukraine Orders First 16 Saab Gripen E Fighters 

Kerry Lynch

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Surging demand across all sectors is unprecedented

AIN Roundtable—Managing Supply Chain through Overheated Demand

Deliveries of the upgraded twinjet are expected to begin in 2029

Embraer Praetor 500E Gets Nods from FAA, EASA, and ANAC

Charles Alcock

Issues regarding financing of aircraft; aviation insurance; tax issues for aircraft operators; new companies and people in the aviation financing and insurance industries.

In this article

Saab Aerospace

More In Aircraft