September 25, 2026 Ottawa, Ontario Defence Investment Agency
The Government of Canada is defending Canadians by strengthening the country's defence capabilities, enhancing interoperability with allies, and supporting economic opportunities for Canadian industry. Today, the government announced that Canada and Saab entered into a non-binding term sheet agreement that establishes the scope and foundation for detailed negotiations toward the potential acquisition of Saab's GlobalEye platform.
On May 27, 2026, the Prime Minister announced that Saab was identified as the preferred supplier for an Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEWC) capability. Once procured, this capability will defend Canadians and enhance Canada's security by detecting and deterring threats across the Arctic and beyond. Through resilient and reliable partnerships with our European allies, Canada will ensure that the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) is equipped to defend Canadian sovereignty by meeting evolving threats, while creating good jobs and delivering value for Canadians.
While the agreement does not constitute a contract or commitment to procure aircraft, it represents concrete progress toward the acquisition of the GlobalEye platform. It establishes the foundation for detailed negotiations on a Canadian configuration and development program designed to meet Canada's requirements, including industrial participation and schedule, reflecting months of collaboration and negotiations among Saab, the Defence Investment Agency, and the Royal Canadian Air Force. The agreement also advances the objectives of Canada's Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS) by balancing defence capability, economic benefits, and industrial development.
With these negotiations, Canada intends to acquire six GlobalEye aircraft with associated systems and training. The GlobalEye platform would provide the RCAF with an advanced airborne surveillance, command and control capability that can detect, track and prioritize threats at long range, including aircraft, missiles and drones. Operating as an airborne command and control centre, the capability would significantly enhance situational awareness, strengthen Canada's contributions to NORAD modernization and continental defence, and improve operational reach in the Arctic and other remote regions.
The Government of Canada is modernizing defence procurement by establishing the Defence Investment Agency (DIA) and streamlining decision-making, engaging industry earlier, and aligning efforts with key partners. The project also aligns with the DIS and the new "Build-Partner-Buy" framework, which prioritizes the procurement of proven, off-the-shelf solutions from trusted allies.
Through this project, Canada is strengthening its defence capabilities, enhancing interoperability with North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) countries and allied partners, and supporting economic opportunities for Canadian industry. A key objective of this project is to establish Canada as a centre for future missionization and support activities, building on the Canadian-manufactured Bombardier Global 6500 platform. This approach would create opportunities for highly skilled employment, technology integration, Canadian supply chain participation, and future exports of the Canadian-built GlobalEye aircraft to international customers.
