The government of Canada is entering discussions with Saab (Sweden) as the preferred supplier for Royal Canadian Air Force future airborne early warning & control (AEW&C) capabilities, based on the Global 6500 GlobalEye platform.
“With a suite of advanced sensors and mission systems, Saab's GlobalEye will be a key resource for the Canadian armed forces to detect and deter threats across the Arctic,” Prime Minister Mark Carney said at a defence conference in Ottawa. Negotiations with Saab will be led by the Defence Investment Agency (DIA) and do not yet constitute a procurement commitment.
Although the prime minister did not provide details on fleet size or the value of a future contract, military officials previously indicated an intent to acquire six AEW&C aircraft.
The selection of the GlobalEye means the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail, based on the Boeing 737NG platform, and the jointly developed L3Harris Technologies and Israel Aerospace Industries ELTA Systems AERIS X AEW&C solution, based on the Global 6500, are no longer under consideration.
Canada has previously pledged to reduce reliance on United States defence firms.
A GlobalEye acquisition would mark the third Canadian procurement involving the Global 6500. The government has already ordered six aircraft, with options for four additional units, to replace four VIP-configured Challenger 600-series aircraft. This was followed by a NRC National Research Council order for a Global 6500 to support advanced research and development in defence and dual-use sectors.
