NATO has finally selected its next-generation airborne early warning aircraft after a decade-long search—the Swedish "GlobalEye."
The current NATO fleet of U.S.-made E-3 "See-Saw" AWACS aircraft are already outdated, with their final retirement date set for 2035. While NATO still wishes to continue using large U.S.-made early warning platforms, the United States has not delivered. The Boeing E-7A program has been plagued by delays, escalating costs (rising from an initial $500 million to today’s $1.3 billion—and possibly even higher), and increasingly outdated performance.
Technically, the Swedish GlobalEye does not significantly outperform the E-7A. Its "balanced boom" radar has substantial detection blind spots, requiring the aircraft to constantly change direction during flight to mitigate these gaps—however, this reduces data refresh rates. NATO's decision to procure the GlobalEye primarily hinges on practical availability and cost feasibility. Given that American equipment remains uncertain in delivery timeline and exorbitantly priced, it makes more sense to opt for a ready-to-deploy, affordable alternative. Moreover, as a European-made platform, choosing the GlobalEye helps reduce NATO’s dependence on U.S. defense systems.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1863314820781065/
Disclaimer: This article reflects the personal views of the author.