NATO selects new AEW Platform

[Manners79]

OK so it's been an open secret for a while but now it is official and announced at the Ankara NATO meeting:
https://www.government.se/press-releases/2026/07/n...
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/nato-buys-globaley...

It is a hugely capable platform (as is the Wedgetail that, until recently, was the way NATO was going but US Politics put paid to that).

Given world events the need for airborne early warning has never been greater, just at a time as the 'original' AWACS (E-3) is hitting retirement age all round the world. Fingers crossed for a smooth introduction and integration into service.

Edited by Manners79 on Tuesday 7th July 11:12

[Eric Mc]

What does it look like?

Is it based on a current airframe (Airbus, SAAB etc) or is it a brand new design?

[lufbramatt]

Eric Mc said:

What does it look like?

Is it based on a current airframe (Airbus, SAAB etc) or is it a brand new design?

Bombardier global 6000 with a big radar “sail” on the top

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GlobalEye

[Countdown]

It's a shame that this happened only after the USAF had cancelled the E-7. IMO we need to move away from US defence companies as much as possible.

[JoshSm]

Seems they opted for cheap and relatively disposable with minimal crew vs big, expensive and lots of crew.

The smaller platforms can do a lot but not quite the same as stuff like E-7. Have to wonder if it's driven by doctrine or budgets.

American wavering over Wedgetail seems like it's more politically driven.

[Countdown]

JoshSm said:

Seems they opted for cheap and relatively disposable with minimal crew vs big, expensive and lots of crew.

The smaller platforms can do a lot but not quite the same as stuff like E-7. Have to wonder if it's driven by doctrine or budgets.

In the conflict between India and Pakistan last year it was reported that Pakistan having more AEW platforms (Saab Erieye) allowed them to exploit gaps in Indian AEW coverage when the latter were changing shift

[Manners79]

JoshSm said:

Seems they opted for cheap and relatively disposable with minimal crew vs big, expensive and lots of crew.

The smaller platforms can do a lot but not quite the same as stuff like E-7. Have to wonder if it's driven by doctrine or budgets.

American wavering over Wedgetail seems like it's more politically driven.

Well to be fair the NATO order for GlobalEye is 'up to' 10 whereas the (potential) order for NATO E-7 Wedgetail was 'up to' 7. Even in modern defence, and especially when you need to be in several places at once, quantity can have a quality all of its own.

The NATO aircraft will have provision for additional crew (not as many as an E-7 but more than current fielded GlobalEye).

Plus these are part of a wider NATO nation owned AEW fleet. UK is getting 3 x E-7 that will, under certain circumstances, be available to NATO. Additionally, several other nations are also negotiating for their own GlobalEye purchases (made more likely by this announcement).

Compatibility / interoperability is much more about common data links etc than common physical platforms and the baseline GlobalEye as will be delivered initially is extremely capable in this regard. Plus it will, of course, undergo mid-life enhancements.

[Manners79]

lufbramatt said:

Bombardier global 6000 with a big radar sail on the top

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GlobalEye

NATO version will be 6500 based and in addition to the solid state radar will have a myriad of other comms and sensors on it

Edited by Manners79 on Tuesday 7th July 13:55