Canada will enter into detailed discussions and formal negotiations with Saab as the preferred supplier of Canada’s future AEW&C enabled by Saab’s GlobalEye. At this point, Saab has not signed a contract nor received an order. The announcement was made by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at CANSEC, Canada’s largest defence and security trade show and was seen by many as a rebuke to the US administration.
Saab has offered to build, maintain and upgrade the Canadian GlobalEyes with a team of Canadian partners. The goal is to transfer knowledge and technology to Canada that will grow the domestic defence industry. Saab also plans to invest in research and development work in Canada, as part of the future programme.
“We welcome Canada’s decision to enter into discussions with Saab as the preferred supplier of the future Canadian AEW&C capability. GlobalEye offers proven capability for the Royal Canadian Air Force, sovereign ownership for Canada and comprehensive and skilled work for Canadian industry,” says Micael Johansson, President and CEO of Saab.
GlobalEye would allow Canada to monitor vast areas of land, sea and sky. Based on the Global 6500 aircraft from Bombardier, GlobalEye combines Saab’s Erieye Extended Range radar with an advanced suite of sensors and a multi-domain Command and Control (C2) system. GlobalEye detects targets by providing long-range and low-signature detection at a high-update frequency – from low observable, stealthy threats, to drones, ballistic and hypersonic missiles in high clutter and jamming environments.
Saab and CAE partner on support for Canada’s AEW&C programme
Saab has signed a teaming agreement with CAE to jointly pursue Canada’s future Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) programme based on Saab’s GlobalEye platform. The teaming agreement for Canada is a continuation of the partnership established by the Global Cooperation Agreement between Saab and CAE announced in November 2025. It reflects the companies’ shared ambition to deepen their collaboration and broaden the scope of cooperation across training and simulation.
Through this agreement, Saab further strengthens its offering for Canada’s AEW&C programme by integrating CAE’s advanced expertise in training. This collaboration will deliver fully integrated and scalable training and simulation solutions designed to enhance operational readiness and effectiveness for the Canadian Armed Forces.
“GlobalEye delivers cutting-edge multi-domain surveillance, offering long-range detection and advanced situational awareness across air, maritime, and land domains. We value the opportunity to further strengthen our partnership with CAE and to collaborate on the Canadian programme, which will also serve as a stepping stone for future opportunities,” said Micael Johansson, President and CEO at Saab.
“CAE’s world-class defence expertise will be critical to enabling a high-performance AEW&C capability for Canada,” said Matt Bromberg, President and Chief Executive Officer, CAE. “Building on our longstanding collaboration and trust with Saab, this agreement reflects our shared commitment to delivering innovative, integrated solutions that strengthen operational performance and support Canada’s defence priorities.”
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