NATO Summit 2026: Alliance selects GlobalEye, brings Triton into shared ISR fleet

NATO is to acquire up to 10 Saab GlobalEye AEW&C aircraft under a selection announced at the NATO Summit 2026 in Ankara. (Saab)

NATO has selected the Saab GlobalEye airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, and is to bring the Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) into the alliance's shared intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) fleet.

Announced at the NATO Summit 2026 in Ankara, Türkiye, on 7 July, the two decisions are geared at recapitalising and bolstering the alliance's airborne AEW&C and ISR capabilities into the 2030s and beyond.

“During the NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum in Ankara … 11 Allies announced the joint procurement of Saab GlobalEye aircraft as NATO's new Airborne Warning And Control System (AWACS). The decision marks a significant step in modernising NATO's airborne surveillance and early warning capabilities by replacing part of the alliance's aging Boeing E-3 fleet,” NATO said of the GlobalEye selection. The 11 NATO allies of this coalition are Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Romania, and Sweden.

“[At the NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum], Denmark, Finland, Germany and Norway announced the procurement of up to five Northrop Grumman's MQ-4C Triton high-end, HALE uncrewed aircraft to enhance NATO's owned ISR Force. The new aircraft will complement NATO's Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) fleet that operates from Sigonella Airbase in Italy,” NATO said of the Triton procurement.