NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte says the alliance is exploring cooperation with Swedish manufacturer Saab on the construction of early warning surveillance aircraft. Multiple outlets report that NATO is considering building as many as 10 aircraft, with the planes described as being largely built using Canadian jets and Canadian-based work. Rutte made the remarks at a NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey.
The reports also state that NATO’s current early warning surveillance fleet is nearing the end of its service life and is set to be replaced. Sources link the replacement effort to the GlobalEye surveillance system, which is used as the reference point for upgrading or replacing existing capability. The information provided by the outlets is framed as planning or discussion rather than a finalized contract, with no details reported on timelines, costs, or the exact structure of the production arrangement beyond Saab’s role and the use of Canadian jets.
Overall, the sources agree on the broad direction: NATO looks to Saab and to Canadian industrial participation to support the development of up to 10 radar surveillance planes as part of a broader fleet replacement.
