Ottawa signs preliminary deal with Swedish firm Saab for 6 GlobalEye aircraft

Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-09-25 13:00:00.0
Tags: [National, Defence, Industry, Trade, Infrastructure]

The federal government, represented by Secretary of State responsible for Defence Procurement Stephen Fuhr, signed a preliminary agreement with Swedish firm Saab and Canadian partner Bombardier to acquire and build six GlobalEye airborne early warning and control (AEWC) aircraft in Canada. The preliminary contract serves as the basis for final negotiations regarding the production schedule, Canadian configuration, and development program, though specific timelines and final procurement costs have not yet been disclosed. The GlobalEye platform was selected based on geopolitical and economic criteria to detect long-range threats like aircraft, missiles, and drones, despite reports from sources indicating the aircraft currently meets only a handful of military requirements and will require significant modifications. The Conservative Party has criticized the sole-source acquisition process and called on the Auditor General and the Parliamentary Budget Officer to investigate the project's operational readiness and adherence to defence needs.