Canada signs preliminary agreement to acquire Saab GlobalEye radar aircraft

On Friday, September 26, 2026, the Canadian government announced the signing of a preliminary, non-binding agreement with the Swedish defense firm Saab. The deal involves the procurement of at least six GlobalEye airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) radar systems, primarily intended to bolster surveillance capabilities in the Arctic region.

The agreement, which serves as a foundation for further detailed negotiations, was facilitated by Canada's new Defense Investment Agency, established by Prime Minister Mark Carney in October 2025 to accelerate military acquisitions. The official discussions began on May 27. The project will utilize Canada-made Bombardier 6500 aircraft as the platform for the GlobalEye systems, with final assembly taking place in Canada. This initiative is expected to support approximately 3,000 jobs while providing the Canadian military with advanced tools to monitor maritime and terrestrial borders and enhance intelligence gathering for ground forces.

In addition to the six aircraft, the acquisition package includes associated systems and training protocols. While the initial talks reportedly considered a much larger fleet of up to 40 aircraft, the current agreement focuses on the initial batch of six. Future phases of the negotiation will address remaining logistical and financial specifications.