LONDON—The Swedish Air Force has ordered a trio of Saab GlobalEye radar aircraft, which operate independently yet form a crucial addition to NATO’s planned fleet of ten such platforms, the service’s chief stated Monday.
Maj. Gen. Jonas Wikman, head of the Swedish Air Force, told reporters in London that Sweden’s acquisition of domestically built airborne early warning and control aircraft is in addition to the alliance agreement announced at the recent NATO summit in Turkey.
Wikman added that NATO will ultimately field such a fleet, similar to existing AWACS capabilities, while Sweden will maintain its own national fleet in partnership with allied nations.
He noted that he has initiated a dialogue with NATO to shape operational concepts for the new aircraft.
Earlier this month, NATO disclosed plans to acquire ten GlobalEyes to succeed its Boeing E-3 AWACS, passing over the U.S. E-7 Wedgetail. Sweden had already ordered a third GlobalEye in 2024 and contributed two older Saab 340 radar aircraft to Ukraine while awaiting delivery of the new fleet slated for 2027 or earlier.
Wikman emphasized that Sweden is assisting Ukraine with its legacy early warning and control assets while preparing to field the next generation. He clarified that the forthcoming GlobalEye—S106—will not merely provide another dedicated air‑control platform but will deliver airborne early warning and control capabilities across all operational domains.
During a Sunday roundtable in London, Boeing executives defended the E‑7 Wedgetail following NATO’s announcement.
Steve Parker, President of Boeing Defense, Space & Security, asserted that the E‑7 Wedgetail remains unmatched, noting its extensive technology roadmap extending three to four decades, making it the premier capability today. He highlighted the platform’s proven performance across Middle Eastern operations.
Parker further stated that Boeing is proud to contribute to the NATO mission with its E‑3 support.
In May, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reinstated funding for the E‑7 after it had been omitted from the initial budget proposal. Subsequently, congressional appropriators endorsed a $1.5 billion amendment to finance its development.
The debate intensified after a U.S. Air Force E‑3 Sentry suffered severe damage during the Iran conflict. Hegseth previously championed the Wedgetail and promoted space‑based capabilities, while current Air Force officials now support both such programs and the next‑generation radar aircraft.
Wikman noted that the Swedish Armed Forces have not yet contemplated a comparable arrangement. Nevertheless, the nation launched its first space‑based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance asset—a Planet Labs satellite—in May, with plans to integrate its data into the forthcoming GlobalEye fleet.
“In that respect, we are already there,” Wikman said, adding that he has instructed Saab to ensure its systems can ingest space‑derived data.
