NATO moves toward Saab–Bombardier GlobalEye in break from Boeing AWACS legacy

NATO Support and Procurement Agency has selected a joint offer from Saab and Bombardier to replace NATO’s ageing airborne warning and control fleet, signalling a potential shift away from long-standing reliance on Boeing.

The reported decision would see the alliance adopt the GlobalEye platform in place of the current Boeing E-3 Sentry fleet, marking the first time since the early 1980s that a non-Boeing system underpins NATO’s airborne surveillance capability.

Shift driven by U.S. retreat and European priorities

The move follows the collapse of earlier plans to procure the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail, after the U.S. Air Force withdrew from the programme in 2025, citing cost overruns, delays and survivability concerns. European partners subsequently abandoned the deal, with officials pointing to the need to strengthen domestic industrial capabilities.

The selection of GlobalEye reflects growing momentum in Europe toward strategic autonomy in defence procurement, alongside dissatisfaction with the handling of the Wedgetail programme.

GlobalEye capabilities and scale

The GlobalEye system combines Saab’s advanced radar technology with a Bombardier Global 6000 or Global 6500 aircraft, offering multi-domain surveillance across air, sea and land with detection ranges exceeding 550 km.

NATO is expected to acquire 10 to 12 aircraft, with an estimated unit cost of around €550 million, implying a programme value above €5 billion before support and infrastructure costs. The platform is expected to meet the alliance’s operational target by around 2031.

Momentum building but contract pending

Interest in the system has been growing, with countries including France already placing orders and others such as Germany and Poland evaluating the platform. Canada is also considering a potential purchase.

While no formal contract has yet been signed, the selection by NATO’s procurement agency strongly indicates that GlobalEye is set to become the alliance’s next-generation airborne surveillance backbone, pending official confirmation.