Canada to order military plane fleet from Sweden in shift from US suppliers | Canada | The Guardian

Skip to main contentSkip to navigationClose dialogue1/1Next imagePrevious imageToggle captionPrint subscriptionsNewsletters Sign inUSUS editionUK editionAustralia editionEurope editionInternational editionThe Guardian - Back to homeThe GuardianNewsOpinionSportCultureLifestyleShow moreHide expanded menuNewsView all NewsUS newsUS politicsWorld newsClimate crisisMiddle EastUkraineUS immigrationSoccerBusinessEnvironmentTechScienceNewslettersThe FilterWellnessOpinionView all OpinionThe Guardian viewColumnistsLettersOpinion videosCartoonsSportView all SportWorld Cup 2026SoccerNFLTennisMLBMLSNBAWNBANHLF1GolfCultureView all CultureFilmBooksMusicArt & designTV & radioStageClassicalGamesLifestyleView all LifestyleThe FilterWellnessFashionFoodRecipesLove & sexHome & gardenHealth & fitnessFamilyTravelMoneySearch input google-search SearchSupport usPrint subscriptionsNewslettersDownload the appSearch jobsDigital ArchiveGuardian LicensingLive eventsAbout UsThe Guardian appVideoPodcastsPicturesInside the GuardianGuardian WeeklyCrosswordsWordiplyCorrectionsTipsSearch input google-search SearchSearch jobsDigital ArchiveGuardian LicensingLive eventsAbout UsWorldEuropeUS newsAmericasAsiaAustraliaMiddle EastAfricaInequalityGlobal development A GlobalEye aircraft, manufactured by Saab Technologies is seen at the Dubai air show in the United Arab Emirates in 2019. Photograph: Christopher Pike/ReutersView image in fullscreenA GlobalEye aircraft, manufactured by Saab Technologies is seen at the Dubai air show in the United Arab Emirates in 2019. Photograph: Christopher Pike/ReutersCanadaCanada to order military plane fleet from Sweden in shift from US suppliersMark Carney announces purchase of Saab’s GlobalEye early warning aircraft to patrol Arctic territoryReuters in OttawaWed 27 May 2026 11.58 EDTLast modified on Wed 27 May 2026 12.55 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleCanada has announced plans to buy a fleet of early warning planes from Sweden’s Saab rather than a competing option from Boeing, as the country seeks to reduce reliance on US defense firms.Mark Carney, the prime minister, said on Wednesday that Canada would opt for Saab’s GlobalEye, which is based on Bombardier’s Global 6500 jet. Boeing’s E-7 Wedgetail plane – which has suffered from delays and cost overruns – had also been in contention.“With a suite of advanced sensors and mission systems, Saab’s GlobalEye will be a key resource for the Canadian armed forces to detect and deter threats across the Arctic,” Carney told a defense conference in Ottawa.The prime minister pledged in March that Canada would take full responsibility for protecting its vast Arctic territory, after relying on decades on a partnership with the US to monitor its more than 4.4m sq km (1.7m sq miles) of land and sea, a territory larger than India.In a statement, Saab said it planned to invest in research and development work in Canada as part of any deal.Although Carney did not give details of the fleet size or the cost of a potential contract, military officials had earlier said they were looking to buy six early warning aircraft.Philippe Lagasse, associate director of international affairs at Ottawa’s Carleton University, said Canada’s decision to buy the GlobalEye planes was “an important test case for the Carney government’s policy of pivoting away from American military capability”.He said in a statement that the decision confirmed Canada’s relationship with Sweden, a new Nato ally that had also been keen to strengthen its ties to the Canadian military.Canada has previously said it is keen to work more closely with the Nordic countries in the Arctic on defense and other issues, in a global environment where the US has become a less reliable partner.Canadian military flies the flag in frozen north as struggle for the Arctic heats upRead more“GlobalEye is already creating jobs in Canada, and working with the Canadian supply chain. This decision ties our two nations even closer together,” the Swedish prime minister, Ulf Kristersson, said in a social media post.Saab is also in the running to sell Canada some of its Gripen fighters. Canada has a deal to buy 88 F-35 jets from Lockheed-Martin, but last year, after the US slapped tariffs on key Canadian imports, Carney asked the military to investigate whether it could cut back the order and buy some planes from another manufacturer.Explore more on these topicsCanadaAmericasMark CarneynewsShareReuse this contentMost viewedMost viewedWorldEuropeUS newsAmericasAsiaAustraliaMiddle EastAfricaInequalityGlobal developmentNewsOpinionSportCultureLifestyleOriginal reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morningSign up for our emailAbout usHelpComplaints & correctionsContact usTip us offSecureDropPrivacy policyCookie policyTax strategyTerms & conditionsAll topicsAll writersNewslettersDigital newspaper archiveBlueskyFacebookInstagramLinkedInThreadsTikTokYouTubeAdvertise with usGuardian LabsSearch jobsWork with usAccessibility settings Back to top© 2026 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. (dcr)

Canada has announced a strategic decision to acquire a fleet of early warning aircraft from Sweden’s Saab rather than pursuing options from the United States, signaling a deliberate effort to reduce reliance on U.S. defense suppliers. Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that Canada would opt for Saab’s GlobalEye aircraft, which is based on Bombardier’s Global 6500 jet, over the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail plane, citing the latter's history of delays and cost overruns. This choice is framed as a mechanism for the Canadian armed forces to gain a key resource for detecting and deterring threats across the Arctic through the GlobalEye’s suite of advanced sensors and mission systems. This procurement decision aligns with the Prime Minister’s pledge made in March regarding Canada’s assumption of full responsibility for protecting its vast Arctic territory.

The context for this shift is rooted in Canada’s long-standing partnership with the United States, which has historically been central to monitoring its extensive land and sea territory. However, the decision reflects a broader policy pivot away from American military capability. Furthermore, the move underscores Canada's desire to foster closer relationships with the Nordic countries in the Arctic, especially given the evolving global environment where the U.S. has been perceived as a less reliable partner. This strategic alignment with Sweden, a new NATO ally keen to strengthen its ties with the Canadian military, was highlighted by an associate director of international affairs from Carleton University, who viewed the acquisition as an important test case for the government's policy of pivoting away from American military influence.

Saab supported this initiative by committing to invest in research and development work within Canada as part of the agreement. The Swedish prime minister, Ulf Kristersson, emphasized the bilateral benefit, noting that the decision ties the two nations even closer together by creating jobs within the Canadian supply chain and promoting cooperation in the Arctic defense domain. In addition to the aircraft procurement, Saab is also exploring opportunities to supply Canada with some of its Gripen fighters. Although Canada maintains a contract for 88 F-35 jets from Lockheed-Martin, the recent imposition of U.S. tariffs on key Canadian imports led the Prime Minister to instruct the military to investigate alternative sourcing options, which ultimately facilitated the exploration of partnerships with European manufacturers. This situation illustrates a complex geopolitical dynamic where national security objectives intersect with diplomatic strategy and supply chain diversification in a contested global arena.