Finland touts pooled AEW&C with Nordic neighbours

Finland has touted a pan-Nordic AEW&C capability that could be based on the GlobalEye (pictured) or another platform. (Saab)

The Nordic neighbours of Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden are considering the pooled procurement of airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft as part of a wider drive to enhance aerial surveillance capabilities over the High North.

Finland's parliamentary working group on defence disclosed in its Development and resource needs of national defence in the 2030s report, published on 2 June 2026, that pan-Nordic AEW&C cooperation is now being explored.

“Air surveillance capabilities must be modernised as ageing systems are decommissioned, and the detection of threat systems becomes more difficult,” the report said. “Possible ways of improving low-altitude detection capabilities, such as airborne early warning and control aircraft, are being considered together with allies, with Nordic cooperation as one option.”

The report offered no prospective airframe(s), numbers or in-service dates.

The Finnish statement of possible Nordic AEW&C cooperation came some 25 months after Saab told Janes and other defence media in May 2024 that it was eyeing just such an arrangement for its GlobalEye aircraft, three of which are to enter Swedish Air Force (SwAF) service in the coming months.