NATO to acquire up to 10 Saab GlobalEye

[Colt_Six_Nine]

Hello
In the Dec/25 I read a article on the Saab purchase, the RCAF were quoted “Were working with Bombardier to build that in-flight refuelling capability onto the Global 6000, because I don’t think we’re the only customer that would be looking for that” So mid-air refuelling isn’t off the table yet.

With ~20 GlobalEye orders and options for 3-4 more, it would make sense to upgrade the platform with in-flight refueling.

NATO: ~10 aircraft
Canada: ~6 aircraft (pending final decision)
Sweden: 3 aircraft, 1 option
France : 2 aircraft, 2 option

 

[Colt_Six_Nine]

Some interior photos from press kit:

 

[Yasser76]

Which parts are not ITAR free ( kind of disappointing to hear this, you would have thought Pakistan would have learnt something by now .. ).

Erieye, SAAB 2000 and its radar is ITAR free 100%

Globaleye may not be as some components in the Global 6000 may be US.

Obviously when it comes to adding on data links it gets complicated but think PAF resolved this

PAF made an excellent choice

 

[Ali_Baba]

Erieye, SAAB 2000 and its radar is ITAR free 100%

Globaleye may not be as some components in the Global 6000 may be US.

Obviously when it comes to adding on data links it gets complicated but think PAF resolved this

PAF made an excellent choice

PAF made a good choice with Erieye for sure, the fact that both France and NATO is echoing that choice reinforces that decision.

Could we see India try and get the Globaleye to plug capability gaps? I suspect not given how PAF knows the platform but it is not unusual for Pakistan/India to operate similar equipment from the same manufacturer ( ie Agosta / Scorpene submarines ).

 

[Yasser76]

PAF made a good choice with Erieye for sure, the fact that both France and NATO is echoing that choice reinforces that decision.

Could we see India try and get the Globaleye to plug capability gaps? I suspect not given how PAF knows the platform but it is not unusual for Pakistan/India to operate similar equipment from the same manufacturer ( ie Agosta / Scorpene submarines ).

That would be insane, they would be operating 3 different systems, but having said that, nothing surprises me about them anymore......

For sure at 2019 and 2025 showed they have major availability issues with their current fleet

 

[Ali_Baba]

That would be insane, they would be operating 3 different systems, but having said that, nothing surprises me about them anymore......

For sure at 2019 and 2025 showed they have major availability issues with their current fleet

The Israeli/Russian system basically doesn't work partially due to availability and partially the hodgepodge nature of the platform. The Netra is an unknown but given how much experience India has in home grown radar technology, I wouldn't dismiss the Netra lightly imho.

The logical choice would be the E-7 Wedgetail for them given the commonality with the P8i platform and I am surprised that they have not already gone down that road.

 

[Yasser76]

The Israeli/Russian system basically doesn't work partially due to availability and partially the hodgepodge nature of the platform. The Netra is an unknown but given how much experience India has in home grown radar technology, I wouldn't dismiss the Netra lightly imho.

The logical choice would be the E-7 Wedgetail for them given the commonality with the P8i platform and I am surprised that they have not already gone down that road.

Yeah, with their Predators and P-8s I really thought they would have gone for E-7 too, just it would have been impossible to data link with any of their planes bar the few Rafales.

IL-76 was a bizarre choice to host their Phalcons, very bizarre.

 

[Watandar]

Yeah, with their Predators and P-8s I really thought they would have gone for E-7 too, just it would have been impossible to data link with any of their planes bar the few Rafales.

IL-76 was a bizarre choice to host their Phalcons, very bizarre.

India may eventually go down the E-7 route not only for these reasons but also as a form of patching up with the US.