NATO is expected to select Saab's GlobalEye airborne early warning aircraft to replace its fleet of Boeing E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft, according to Reuters, citing four sources familiar with the matter.
The announcement is expected during the NATO summit in Ankara on July 7-8. While the alliance confirmed that a decision on the future Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) fleet will be unveiled during the meeting, it declined to identify the selected aircraft. Saab also declined to comment.
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June 24, 2026
If confirmed, the decision would mark a major shift in NATO's surveillance strategy after the alliance abandoned plans to acquire Boeing E-7 Wedgetail aircraft last year. That program lost momentum after the US Air Force halted its own E-7 procurement in favor of greater investment in space-based surveillance capabilities, prompting NATO to reopen its evaluation.
The aircraft had emerged as the leading candidate after French media claimed NATO had selected the aircraft. At the time, however, Saab said no contract had been signed and stressed that the procurement process remained underway.
GlobalEye combines Saab's Erieye Extended Range radar with Bombardier's Global 6500 business jet. Unlike the E-3 Sentry, which specializes in airborne surveillance, GlobalEye also provides maritime and ground surveillance through a multi-domain sensor suite.
The aircraft entered service in 2018 and is currently operated by the United Arab Emirates. Sweden and France have also placed orders, while Canada recently selected six GlobalEye aircraft in what became the largest confirmed order for the type to date.
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Reuters reported that NATO's acquisition is expected to exceed Canada's order, although the final quantity remains unclear. One option under consideration would include an aerial refueling capability, allowing the aircraft to remain on station for extended periods in a role similar to the current E-3 fleet.
NATO's 14 E-3 Sentry aircraft entered service in the early 1980s and are based at Geilenkirchen Air Base in Germany. Operated by multinational crews drawn from 21 member nations, the fleet provides long-range air surveillance and command-and-control capabilities during alliance operations.
A NATO order would become Saab's largest GlobalEye sale to date. The aircraft's prospects improved after the US Air Force reduced support for the E-7 Wedgetail program, prompting the alliance to revisit its own plans. At the same time, the Trump administration's increasingly distant approach toward NATO has reinforced interest in European defense programs.
