The alliance has provisionally selected Saab's GlobalEye to replace ageing AWACS planes in a deal valued at up to $4.5 billion, with deliveries potentially starting in 2030.
NATO has moved into formal negotiations with Saab on acquiring up to 10 GlobalEye surveillance aircraft in a programme valued at roughly $4.5 billion, as the alliance works to replace its ageing Cold War-era AWACS fleet. Secretary-General Mark Rutte said the new system would help NATO address emerging threats such as drone swarms while keeping its surveillance and early warning capabilities credible for decades. Saab's GlobalEye, mounted on Bombardier Global 6500 business jets, was chosen over Boeing's rival E-7 Wedgetail in a provisional selection that Reuters had reported earlier. Saab CEO Micael Johansson said deliveries could begin in 2030 if a deal is signed soon, and estimated the final price at roughly $400 million to $450 million per aircraft, though the total number ordered has not been finalised. NATO described GlobalEye as mission-proven. A more expensive version with mid-air refuelling had been under discussion, but a person familiar with the matter said the aircraft would not initially have that capability and that it was expected to be added later. NATO's current AWACS fleet can be refuelled in flight, a feature that has been useful for missions near Ukraine.