NATO plans to replace AWACS with Saab GlobalEye

July 02, 2026

The NATO defence alliance is considering replacing its fleet of AWACS aircraft with Saab GlobalEye surveillance planes.

According to Reuters, citing several people with insight, NATO plans to replace its AWACS aircraft with Saab GlobalEye planes. The decision is set to be announced at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, on 7–8 July.

Both NATO and Saab have declined to comment on the reports. The Saab share rose on the Stockholm exchange and was up 6.3 percent at 14:40.

In late May Canada opened negotiations to buy GlobalEye. The talks will among other things determine how many planes are to be delivered, according to Saab CEO Micael Johansson around six units.

人们在说什么

Discussions on X focus on NATO's potential shift to Saab GlobalEye as a move toward European strategic autonomy and away from US suppliers, with positive sentiments on European capabilities and stock gains, alongside neutral reporting on the procurement change and possible US tensions.

From neutral Sweden to NATO’s eyes in the sky.
NATO choosing Saab GlobalEye over Boeing is bigger than it looks.
This is not just an aircraft procurement story. It is a signal about where the alliance is heading.
For decades, NATO’s airborne surveillance backbone was tied to the…

— Thorstrike (@rospigge60559) 2026年4月23日

NATO is about to replace its Boeing AWACS fleet with 🇸🇪Sweden's @Saab GlobalEye. Announcement expected at next week's Ankara summit.

Saab stock already up +6.3%.

Let's say it loud: Europe builds world-class systems. For once, defense money flows back to Europe instead of the… pic.twitter.com/JQ63dmtCK5

— The Europeans (@TheEuropeansHQ) 2026年7月2日

NATO Snubs Boeing, Picks Saab for AWACS

NATO is set to replace its aging E-3 AWACS fleet with Saab–Bombardier GlobalEye aircraft after the earlier Boeing E-7 plan collapsed.

The shift follows U.S. withdrawal and European push for industrial autonomy.

Around 10–14 aircraft… pic.twitter.com/PJfKYqWMP7

— Clash Report (@clashreport) 2026年4月24日

NATO selects Swedish Saab GlobalEye to replace 14 E-3 AWACS planes in historic shift from the U.S. pic.twitter.com/U9hVqGiLvB

— Army Recognition (@ArmyRecognition) 2026年4月23日

NATO has stepped back from its plan to use Boeing E7 aircraft to replace the ageing AWACS system.

Instead, Swedish Saab is now the front-runner with GlobalEye for European countries looking to replace their fleet of early warning aircraft 🇪🇺 pic.twitter.com/3cDRCWJ2Uf

— NXT EU (@NXT4EU) 2025年11月15日

来源

• https://www.sydsvenskan.se/ekonomi/saabs-overvakningsflygplan-kan-bli-natostandard/
• https://www.na.se/saabs-overvakningsflygplan-kan-bli-natostandard/
• https://www.svt.se/nyheter/lokalt/ost/saabs-global-eye-kan-bli-natostandard-beslut-vantas-nasta-vecka