Canada is in talks with Saab to acquire its GlobalEye airborne early warning aircraft, as Prime Minister Mark Carney announced during the CANSEC arms trade show in Ottawa. The system, integrated with advanced sensors and mission systems, is intended to enhance the Canadian Armed Forces’ capabilities in detecting and deterring threats in the Arctic region. The GlobalEye, based on a Bombardier 6500 executive jet with Saab radar and sensors, is produced at Saab’s facility in Toronto.
The Canadian Air Force had initially planned to purchase up to six early warning aircraft for both domestic and international operations, with a particular focus on surveillance in the Arctic. These aircraft have the capability to track objects on land, sea, or air up to 650 kilometers away.
Saab’s proposal for the surveillance aircraft also included the sale of Gripen-E fighter jets to Canada, with a commitment to transfer technology for local manufacturing of both aircraft types. The decision on whether to proceed with the Gripen purchase and reduce procurement of American F-35 jets has been under review for over a year.
In the competition for the early warning aircraft, the GlobalEye faced off against the U.S.-made Boeing E-7 Wedgetail and the L3Harris Aeris X. NATO is seriously considering the GlobalEye as a potential replacement for its aging fleet of Boeing E-3 Sentry airborne early warning aircraft.
