European NATO segment will collectively purchase 10 GlobalEye airborne early warning and control aircraft from Swedish Saab. These plans were announced by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte during NATO summit opening in Ankara.
When contract will be signed and how much order will cost is not yet announced. As Saab reports, only official negotiations process with NATO procurement agency NSPA will now begin for agreement conclusion.
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This decision was generally quite expected and actively discussed since April, when choice between Swedish GlobalEye and American Boeing E-7 Wedgetail became obvious. Ultimately uncertainty with American E-7 Wedgetail AWACS reached point of no return.
Back in summer 2025, Pentagon announced desire to cancel program and only after Congressional pressure was this project not officially closed. In Britain, E-7 Wedgetail armament progress also stalled — only built aircraft never yet activated its radar and in one year took to skies only four times.
Although after iran war results Washington again spoke about AWACS aircraft need, this does not significantly change project reputation. This is precisely why official decision announcement in favor of Saab solution, even purely from technological perspective looks better. Economic-production reasons related to ordering European-manufactured aircraft are added. Also security-political — choosing solution independent from U.S.
Additionally, GlobalEye procurement decision was previously made by France, which ordered two aircraft in last days of 2025, Sweden itself awaiting three aircraft. Germany, Denmark and Finland are also potential Swedish AWACS aircraft customers. In other words, certain unification is involved. Worth noting Ukraine, thanks to Swedish assistance, received two Saab 340 AEW&C aircraft, which are GlobalEye predecessor version.
At the same time, recent France contract is quite telling from expected GlobalEye timeline and cost perspective for NATO. Two Saab AWACS aircraft cost Paris approximately €1.14 billion. Meaning expected 10 aircraft cost will be approximately €6 billion. Regarding delivery timelines, France expects to receive in 2029-2032.
Also quite telling is that GlobalEye should replace E-3 Sentry, also American-manufactured, in service since 1982. This aircraft fleet, currently numbering 14 aircraft, is owned by NATO as organization, although assigned to Luxembourg Air Force.
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