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NATO plans to replace AWACS with Saab GlobalEye jets, sources say

NATO plans to replace AWACS with Saab GlobalEye jets, sources sayNATO plans to replace AWACS with Saab GlobalEye jets, sources say

NATO has announced plans to replace its aging AWACS radar fleet with Saab GlobalEye surveillance planes from Sweden, a move that could test relations with the United States after the Pentagon scrapped its own Wedgetail purchase.

The decision follows the US shift toward satellite-based capabilities, prompting NATO to pursue a hybrid radar-satellite system instead. This upgrade matters as it signals NATO's growing reliance on non-US surveillance technology and a strategic pivot away from traditional aircraft-based radar.

  • Sweden's Saab Aerospace has been developing GlobalEye since 2018, initially targeting defense markets in the Middle East and Asia.
  • The AWACS jet NATO plans to retire has a 1,500-mile radar range, while GlobalEye's MR-1 variant extends coverage to 2,000 miles with satellite integration.
  • The US canceled its 26-jet Wedgetail order in 2025, marking the first major US rejection of Boeing's 737-based surveillance platform.