Canada reaches preliminary pact with Saab to build six GlobalEye radar planes domestically

Canada disclosed a preliminary arrangement with Swedish defence contractor Saab to build six GlobalEye airborne early-warning and control aircraft within the country, in partnership with Bombardier. The announcement marks the next step toward finalizing a purchase and a domestic manufacturing schedule, though no cost or timeline has been released. The GlobalEye platform, capable of tracking aircraft, missiles and drones at great distances, is already operated by NATO, Sweden, France, the Netherlands and the United Arab Emirates.

Officials said the selection was driven by both strategic and economic considerations, aiming to boost Canadian industrial capacity. Conservative leaders have criticised the process for bypassing a competitive tender and have asked the Auditor General and Parliamentary Budget Officer to review the project. The government maintains that the agreement signals concrete progress toward a Canadian-specific configuration of the system.