Canada enters discussions with Saab for new aircraft

GlobalEye Saab

The Government of Canada is entering discussions with Swedish defence company Saab as the preferred supplier for a new Airborne Early Warning and Control capability for the Royal Canadian Air Force.

The announcement was made Wednesday by Stephen Fuhr, Secretary of State for Defence Procurement.

Led by the Defence Investment Agency, the project is aimed at providing the Royal Canadian Air Force with advanced airborne command, surveillance and control capabilities capable of detecting, tracking and responding to threats at long range, including in the Arctic.

The federal government says the capability is expected to strengthen Canada’s role within North American Aerospace Defense Command and improve operational reach in remote regions of the country.

Officials said discussions with Saab do not represent a procurement commitment, but will allow Canada to further assess the proposed solution.

Saab’s proposed GlobalEye system is built on the Canadian-manufactured Bombardier Global 6500 aircraft and is expected to support domestic production, skilled jobs, technology transfer and partnerships with Canadian industry.

Saab is expected to work alongside Bombardier and other Canadian firms as discussions continue.