Carney says Canada will buy European surveillance planes over two American options
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- Canada will purchase Saab’s GlobalEye early-warning jets built on Bombardier aircraft, rejecting two U.S. rivals in a bid to bolster Arctic surveillance and homegrown aerospace manufacturing.
- The radar planes, with 20% U.S. content, offer long-range tracking of aircraft and missiles and align with Ottawa’s push to diversify defense spending through European partnerships and NATO cooperation.
- Prime Minister Mark Carney’s move underscores a broader rethink of U.S.-made weapons, including F-35 jets, after Trump-era trade clashes and talk of Canada becoming America’s “51st state.”
TORONTO — 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.
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.
Canada joined a major European Union defense fund last year, and 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. 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.
President 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.
Gillies writes for the Associated Press.
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