Saab GlobalEye Rolls Out in Sweden as NATO Eyes Fleet Replacement
Saab has rolled out Sweden's first GlobalEye AEW&C aircraft, with delivery planned for 2027 and NATO in negotiations for up to ten more.
By The Aviation Hub
4 min read
Saab rolled out the first Saab GlobalEye airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft built for Sweden at its Linköping facility on 15 October 2026, the company and the Swedish Armed Forces announced jointly. The aircraft will now begin testing and verification ahead of its first flight, with delivery to the Swedish Air Force planned for 2027.
What the Saab GlobalEye Is and What It Can Do
The aircraft carries the designation S 106 in Swedish service. According to AeroTime, it combines Saab's Erieye Extended Range radar with additional active and passive sensors, all mounted aboard a Bombardier Global 6000 business jet platform.
Saab states that the Erieye Extended Range radar has a range of more than 550 kilometres (approximately 340 miles). The system is designed to detect and track targets in the air, at sea and over land, and to share that information in real time with aircraft, ships and ground forces.
"The system gives us a genuine multi-domain capability that strengthens our ability to detect, understand and act across several domains," said Jonas Wikman, chief of the Swedish Air Force, as reported by AeroTime.
Saab chief executive Micael Johansson described the unveiling as an important milestone as the Swedish programme moves towards delivery, according to Aviation24.be.
How Sweden's Order Came Together
The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) placed the initial contract for two GlobalEye aircraft on 30 June 2022, at a value of approximately SEK 7.3 billion (around $673 million at the time), as AeroTime reports.
The order was later expanded. On 27 June 2024, FMV exercised an option for a third aircraft at approximately SEK 2.6 billion (around $245 million at the time), with a contractual delivery period extending to 2029.
The expansion was driven in part by Sweden's decision to transfer its existing Saab 340-based ASC 890 surveillance aircraft to Ukraine in May 2024. The Swedish government acknowledged at the time that the transfer would temporarily reduce its own defence capability, and pledged to accelerate GlobalEye deliveries to offset the loss.
Ukraine's Ministry of Defense confirmed in September 2026 that the Swedish-supplied ASC 890 had flown its first combat missions in March 2026, AeroTime notes.
A Platform Shared Across Swedish Service
The Swedish Air Force has highlighted a practical advantage of the S 106. The GlobalEye shares its Bombardier Global 6000 platform with Sweden's TP 106 government transport aircraft, which was delivered earlier in 2026.
AeroTime reports that the common airframe could allow both fleets to cooperate on training, maintenance and spare parts, reducing long-term support costs.
The Netherlands Moves Toward a Shared Fleet
Sweden's GlobalEye programme is already attracting partners. On 10 September 2026, the Netherlands signed a letter of intent with Stockholm to acquire one GlobalEye aircraft, with the two countries agreeing to pool their fleets.
Under the proposed arrangement, Dutch personnel would gain access to Swedish aircraft from 2028, three years before their own aircraft is due for delivery in 2031. AeroTime notes that Saab had not yet received a formal Dutch order when the letter of intent was signed.
The arrangement would give the Netherlands an operational AEW&C capability ahead of its own delivery, while both countries cooperate on training and system development.
NATO Enters the Picture
The rollout takes on broader significance given developments at alliance level. At the NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum in Ankara on 7 July 2026, Secretary General Mark Rutte announced that NATO would open negotiations with Saab for up to ten GlobalEye aircraft to replace its ageing Boeing E-3A Sentry AWACS fleet, according to AeroTime.
That multinational procurement would be separate from the aircraft ordered nationally by Sweden and France, as well as the one planned by the Netherlands. France ordered two GlobalEye aircraft on 30 December 2025, and an undisclosed Middle Eastern customer ordered a further two on 27 July 2026.
Sweden is expected to become the first NATO member to operate the type, giving the alliance early operational experience with the platform ahead of any collective order.
Tracking Saab's Growing Order Book
The GlobalEye is emerging as the leading candidate to fill one of NATO's most consequential capability gaps. You can explore more about the manufacturer and its aircraft programmes using the Manufacturer Search tool.
With Sweden's first aircraft now out of the factory and the alliance in active negotiations, the pace of GlobalEye orders has accelerated markedly across 2025 and 2026.
The Bottom Line
The Linköping rollout marks a tangible step forward for a programme that has grown well beyond its original two-aircraft Swedish contract. Delivery in 2027 would make Sweden the first NATO operator of the GlobalEye, providing the alliance with proof-of-concept operational data at a moment when it is actively considering the type as its next AWACS platform.
With France, the Netherlands, an undisclosed Middle Eastern buyer and potentially NATO itself all in various stages of commitment, Saab's order book for the GlobalEye is building quickly. The next milestone to watch is the aircraft's first flight, after which the testing and verification programme will determine whether the 2027 delivery date holds.
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