NATO plans to replace AWACS with Saab GlobalEye jets, sources say
NATO's Surveillance Aircraft Replacement and Its Implications
By Sabine Siebold and Tim Hepher
Background on NATO's AWACS Fleet
BERLIN/PARIS, July 2 (Reuters) - NATO plans to replace its ageing fleet of U.S.-built AWACS surveillance aircraft with a Swedish alternative, four sources told Reuters, in a move that could jar with President Donald Trump, who has urged allies to buy more U.S. defence equipment.
Trump has repeatedly criticised European allies for relying on the U.S. for their security, while pressing them to boost defence spending and buy more U.S. equipment. He has also threatened at times to pull Washington out of NATO.
Upcoming Announcement at NATO Summit
The sources said the purchase of Saab's GlobalEye surveillance aircraft would be announced at a NATO summit in Ankara on July 7 to 8.
A spokesperson for the alliance confirmed that a decision on the AWACS replacement would be announced at the summit but declined to provide details. Saab declined to comment.
Role and History of AWACS Aircraft
With their distinctive nine-metre-wide radar domes, NATO's 14 Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft have served as the alliance's eyes in the sky since 1982.
Based at Geilenkirchen air base in Germany, the fleet has played a key role in surveillance missions along NATO's eastern flank since Russia launched its war in Ukraine.
Details of the GlobalEye Replacement
Deployment and Capabilities
Under the replacement plan, Geilenkirchen could eventually become home to the world's largest fleet of GlobalEye aircraft, the sources familiar with the situation said.
The system, which entered service in 2018, is designed to detect and track threats across air, land and sea. It is based on the Global 6500 business jet built by Canada's Bombardier.
GlobalEye competes with Boeing's E-7 Wedgetail, an early warning and command-and-control aircraft based on the 737 jetliner and designed to oversee and direct battle.
LARGEST GLOBALEYE PURCHASE
NATO dropped plans in 2025 to buy six Boeing E-7 Wedgetail aircraft after the Pentagon, its largest prospective customer, scrapped plans to acquire 26 of the jets and instead put greater emphasis on satellite-based capabilities.
Under pressure from U.S. lawmakers, however, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told a Congressional panel in May that the Pentagon was seeking to restore funding for the programme.
The planned NATO announcement comes weeks after Canada, which has said it wants to reduce its dependence on U.S. defence suppliers, announced plans to buy six GlobalEye aircraft, the largest order for the jet so far.
NATO's purchase is expected to be larger, although it was not immediately clear how many jets it would involve. One source said the final number could depend on whether the alliance opts for a more expensive version capable of mid-air refuelling.
Operational Advantages and Historical Missions
The current AWACS fleet can be refuelled in flight, a capability that has proved valuable for missions near Ukraine by extending time on station.
The aircraft, among the few military assets owned directly by NATO, are operated by crews from 21 of the alliance's 32 member states.
In a conflict, they can provide a common radar picture for allied fighters, ships and control centres, while directing NATO combat jets to their targets.
The fleet has supported missions in the Balkans, Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as security operations during the 2006 World Cup in Germany and major international summits.
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Sabine Siebold and Tim Hepher. Additional reporting by Simon Johnson. Editing by Barbara Lewis, Joe Bavier and Mark Potter)
