NATO's decision to move forward with a Swedish-built airborne surveillance aircraft as the alliance's next Airborne Warning and Control System is generating mixed reactions.
Supporters call it a major modernization effort, and at least one former U.S. official warned the move could weaken broader transatlantic defense cooperation, according to Military.com.
Earlier this month, 11 NATO member nations announced they will jointly procure Saab's GlobalEye aircraft to replace part of the alliance's aging fleet of Boeing E-3 AWACS aircraft, which have served as NATO's primary airborne surveillance platform for decades.
The participating countries are Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Romania, and Sweden.
NATO said the aircraft will provide advanced surveillance capabilities across air, land, and sea from a single platform while improving the alliance's early-warning and command-and-control capabilities.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte described the procurement as an important step in modernizing the alliance's surveillance capabilities and replacing part of its aging Boeing E-3 fleet.
"We are honored and proud to support NATO in its next-generation AEW&C capability," Saab President and CEO Micael Johansson said in a statement earlier this month. "We are confident that GlobalEye is the right choice for the Alliance, delivering proven capability, adaptability and long-term operational advantage."
"Today's announcement clearly positions GlobalEye as the world-leading solution for advanced airborne early warning and control. We look forward to the next steps in the negotiations," he added.
The GlobalEye purchase is part of a broader package of defense initiatives unveiled during the summit aimed at strengthening NATO's deterrence posture and expanding industrial cooperation among allies.
Saab said NATO plans to negotiate the acquisition of up to 10 GlobalEye aircraft, although no contract has yet been signed. The company said the platform was selected as NATO's future airborne early-warning solution because of its multi-domain surveillance capabilities and operational flexibility.
Not everyone views the decision as an unqualified success.
A former U.S. official criticized the procurement as an "easy button," arguing it risks overlooking broader strategic considerations for the alliance.
"For the operators who will depend on this aircraft to survive a peer fight, the GlobalEye selection is a profound compromise," the official said.
"The modern benchmark for AEW remains the Boeing E‑7 Wedgetail, whose MESA radar delivers a true 360-degree long-range track and the ability to dynamically concentrate radar energy on high‑priority sectors," added the official.
"That 'stare' capability is essential for detecting low‑RCS stealth aircraft, cruise missiles, and drone swarms," they said.
"On paper, it looks like a triumph of European defense cooperation," added a retired NATO general officer who spoke to Military.com on the condition of anonymity.
"In reality, it is a dangerous procurement 'easy button,' a political shortcut where industrial interests overwhelm operational logic at the most consequential moment for NATO air power since the Cold War, with the largest land war in Europe now in its fifth year," the retired officer said.
The U.S. official warned that focusing primarily on an off-the-shelf replacement could undermine other aspects of NATO cooperation, including transatlantic defense industrial ties and long-term interoperability.
"The Ankara announcement may look impressive on a PowerPoint slide celebrating European integration, but to the operators who will fight under its radar umbrella, it is cosmetic progress masking a dangerous retreat from lethality and protection," the official said.
"It is, in the end, lipstick on a pig," they added.
"When the average Russian attack on Ukraine every three days includes more than 500 drones, dozens of cruise missiles, and hypersonic weapons, this is the war NATO must be prepared to defend against, and it demands the best AEW capability available — not the most politically convenient one," argued the official.
A NATO official told Military.com the decision to select GlobalEye was based on capability, affordability, and timely delivery, adding, "It is the solution that best meets NATO's requirements."
"NATO's Support and Procurement Agency supports the procurement process, and we remain committed to transparency while ensuring we adhere to the necessary procedural steps," they explained. "Deliveries are planned between 2031 and 2035."
The criticism comes as NATO members have faced increasing pressure to boost defense spending while balancing support for European defense manufacturers with maintaining close industrial partnerships with the United States.
NATO has emphasized that the GlobalEye program remains a transatlantic effort despite Saab serving as the prime contractor.
Alliance officials noted the aircraft incorporates contributions from European, Canadian, and U.S. industry, describing it as an example of multinational defense cooperation.
The AWACS fleet has played a central role in NATO operations for decades, providing airborne surveillance, airspace monitoring, command and control, maritime tracking, and support for alliance missions ranging from counterterrorism to the defense of NATO's eastern flank following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.