The NATO Support and Procurement Agency selected the Swedish-Canadian GlobalEye platform to replace its Boeing E-3A Sentry AWACS fleet. This decision ends over 40 years of Boeing providing NATO’s primary airborne surveillance backbone. NATO reportedly pivoted to Saab following development setbacks in Boeing’s E-7 program.
The proposed contract covers a fleet of 10 to 12 GlobalEye aircraft. The initial procurement value exceeds €5 billion, excluding long-term maintenance and infrastructure costs. Saab and Bombardier developed the platform by integrating long-range radar technology onto a business jet.
The deal marks a significant competitive victory for Saab in the multi-domain surveillance market. Conversely, the selection represents a major loss for Boeing in a critical defense segment.