Saab presents Sweden’s first GlobalEye aircraft

Saab has presented Sweden's first GlobalEye early warning aircraft, with testing, first flight and delivery still to come as part of a three-aircraft order from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration. The system has also been selected by NATO as a replacement for its AWACS fleet, though a formal contract has not yet been signed.

Daniel Trangeledsweden16 Oct 2026Original Source

On 15 October, Saab presented the first GlobalEye airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft for the Swedish Air Force. Next comes testing and verification, then its first flight and delivery.

Sweden has ordered three GlobalEye aircraft. The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) ordered the first two in 2022, with an option for more. A third was ordered in 2024.

GlobalEye uses active and passive sensors to detect and identify targets in the air, at sea and over land at long range. According to Saab, it shares real-time information with air, land and naval units.

In July, NATO selected GlobalEye to replace its AEW&C capability, with up to ten systems, as previously reported by NDS. No contract has been signed yet.

Common questions about the article

Questions and answers generated automatically from the article content.

01How many GlobalEye aircraft has Sweden ordered?

Sweden has ordered three GlobalEye aircraft in total. The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) ordered the first two in 2022, with an option for more, and a third was ordered in 2024. Saab presented the first aircraft on 15 October 2026. Last fact-checked: 2026-10-16.

02What comes next after Saab presented the first GlobalEye for Sweden?

03Which NATO role was GlobalEye selected for in July?