Canada has begun detailed discussions and formal negotiations with Saab as the preferred supplier for the Royal Canadian Air Force’s future Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) capability, based on the GlobalEye system. The announcement was made on 27 May 2026 at the CANSEC 2026 defence exhibition by Stephen Fuhr.
Saab said that, at this stage, no contract has been signed and no order has been received, and the Canadian government stressed that the engagement with Saab does not constitute a procurement commitment. The talks cover the prospective acquisition of GlobalEye-based AEW&C aircraft and associated support, with Saab indicating it intends to work with Canadian partners for construction, maintenance and future upgrades. The project is also framed as a vehicle for transferring knowledge and technologies into the Canadian aerospace and defence industry.
The AEW&C requirement is driven by Canada’s need to enhance airborne surveillance, command and control, particularly in support of northern and Arctic defence. GlobalEye, Saab’s multi-role AEW&C platform, is being proposed as the core of this future capability.
The move signals a potential shift in Canada’s long-term airborne surveillance posture and could shape industrial cooperation and high-end mission systems workshare in the Canadian defence aviation sector if negotiations progress to a formal procurement.