NATO announced how it will replace its Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) fleet on Tuesday, July 7th, as European Union-based NATO members were scheduled to meet in Ankara this week.
While U.S. president Donald Trump encourages allies to shoulder more of the cost of their own defence, his hopes are that this will lead to increased American arms sales. Instead, as we anticipated last week, NATO is planning to buy up to 10 GlobalEye surveillance aircraft from Swedish firm Saab at a cost of roughly $4.5 billion (€3.94 billion) in total. According to NATO chief Mark Rutte,
Like its predecessor, GlobalEye is a transatlantic programme, delivered by European and Canadian industries with essential contributions from US industries. It is a real success story, again, made in NATO.
Saab’s first handover of the equipment for military use is expected to take place in 2030.
