This is a proud moment for Sweden, says Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M).
NATO's plans to replace the current American AWACS system with Globaleye were announced in connection with the NATO summit in Ankara.
This means that, for the first time, NATO will have an airborne surveillance capability that is not American.
The current 14 American AWACS planes that NATO relies on began being used in the 1980s.
They have served us well, but are starting to reach the end of their lifespan, says NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
New level
According to Rutte, Globaleye will take NATO's airborne surveillance to a new level.
Rutte points out that Globaleye gives commanders a clear situational picture across the air, sea and land "domains" simultaneously and that the system ensures the alliance's early warning capability for decades to come.
It is a proven system with the ability to detect, track and identify complex threats, such as drone swarms, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles, says Rutte.
The Globaleye plane is already in production and has been used by the United Arab Emirates for several years. According to Saab's CEO, the plane has worked very well during the war in Iran.
Sweden is expected to receive the planes in 2027.
40 billion
It is absolutely fantastic to have the opportunity to supply NATO with this capability, says Saab CEO Micael Johansson to TT.
The Globaleye planes will, according to him, be able to see far into Russia, even if they fly at a safe distance from attacks.
The up to ten Globaleye planes will be paid for by eleven NATO allies, including Sweden, Germany and Norway. They will then be placed at NATO's disposal and will likely be based in Germany.
No contracts have been signed yet. Negotiations are pending. But the price for a Globaleye plane is, according to Saab's CEO, around 400-450 million dollars each, that is, 40 billion kronor for ten planes.
New jobs
If the contracts are signed now, Saab could begin delivering 4-6 Globaleye platforms per year from 2030, says Micael Johansson.
This will mean hundreds of new jobs in Linköping and Gothenburg. However, the aircraft themselves are manufactured by Canadian company Bombardier and important parts will be produced in France.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) participated in the announcement of NATO's plans and describes the day as a big day for NATO, Saab and Sweden.
As Prime Minister, I am extremely proud of the Swedish defence industry with its engineering skills, he says.
