Canada is in talks with Saab to acquire its GlobalEye airborne early warning aircraft, as announced by Prime Minister Mark Carney. The revelation took place during the opening of the annual arms trade show CANSEC in Ottawa. Carney highlighted the aircraft’s advanced sensors and mission systems, emphasizing its importance for the Canadian Armed Forces in detecting and deterring threats in the Arctic region.
The GlobalEye system, based on a Bombardier 6500 executive jet integrated with Saab radar and sensors, is produced at Saab’s plant in Toronto. The Canadian Air Force had initially planned to purchase up to six early warning aircraft for various operational purposes, with a growing concern for surveillance needs in the Arctic.
Capable of tracking objects on land, sea, or air at distances of up to 650 kilometers, the GlobalEye aircraft offers enhanced surveillance capabilities. Saab’s proposal includes the potential for technology transfer to enable local manufacturing of both the GlobalEye and Gripen-E fighter jets.
The decision regarding the procurement of Gripen jets versus American-made F-35 jets is still under consideration after more than a year of review. The GlobalEye competed against the U.S.-manufactured Boeing E-7 Wedgetail and the L3Harris Aeris X, with NATO considering it as a prospective replacement for its aging Boeing E-3 Sentry airborne early warning aircraft fleet.