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Carney says Canada will buy European
surveillance planes over two American options
[May 28, 2026]
By ROB GILLIES
TORONTO
(AP) — Canada will buy early warning radar planes built by Sweden’s Saab
and Canada’s Bombardier over two American options, Prime Minister Mark
Carney announced Wednesday.
Carney said his government has entered negotiations to procure Saab’s
Airborne Early Warning & Control Aircraft, which is built on the
Canadian-manufactured Bombardier Global 6500 aircraft and will support
domestic production.
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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney makes an address at the Canadian
Association of Defense and Security Industries annual defense industry
trade show CANSEC, in Ottawa, on Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (Justin
Tang/The Canadian Press via AP) |
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Carney also noted it is made with 20% U.S. content. The federal
government has previously said it’s in the market for six radar
aircraft.
Carney has made a point of diversifying its military spending
away from the United States.
Equipped with powerful radar, the Saab planes provide
situational awareness about aircraft and missile movements for
hundreds of miles (kilometers). They can detect hostile activity
in the air or from ships are able to direct fighter jets to
their targets.
“Saab’s GlobalEye will be a key resource for the Canadian Armed
Forces to detect and deter threats across the Arctic,” Carney
said.
The other options would have been to buy the E-7A Wedgetail
surveillance planes built by U.S. aircraft manufacturer Boeing
or the Aeris X by L3Harris.
NATO is also considering the Saab plane over the American
options.
Carney has previously said that no more will over 70 cents of
every dollar of Canadian military capital spending go to the
U.S.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s actions — including launching a
trade war and suggesting Canada become the 51st U.S. state —
infuriated Canadians and created the political environment for
Carney to win the job of prime minister after promising to
confront Trump’s increased aggression.
The Canadian government is reviewing the planned purchase of
U.S. F-35 fighter jets to explore other options. Carney has said
the potential for having more production in Canada is a factor.
A proposal by Saab promised that assembly and maintenance of the
Saab Gripen fighter jet would take place in Canada.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said Canada's decision on
the early warning radar plane ties the two nations even closer
together.
“As the GlobalEye is based on the Canadian Bombardier Global
6500 platform, GlobalEye is already creating jobs in Canada, and
working with the Canadian supply chain,” Kristersson said in a
post on social media.
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