Canada PM Carney: Talks Underway to Acquire Saab Spy Planes

Canada Plans to Acquire Saab GlobalEye Surveillance Aircraft

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Wednesday that officials have entered into talks with Saab to acquire the Swedish company's surveillance aircraft for the country's military, as the nation rebuilds its military and strengthens security ties with Europe.

GlobalEye Aircraft to Detect Threats in the Arctic

Speaking at a defense conference in Ottawa, Carney said Saab's GlobalEye aircraft would help detect and deter threats across the Arctic. Saab said it has offered to build, maintain and upgrade the planes that Canada purchases in partnership with Canadian firms.

Production and Job Creation in Canada

Montreal-based Bombardier supplies the underlying aircraft platform for Saab's GlobalEye. Carney said that as envisaged, about a third of the GlobalEye produced would be assembled in Canada, creating about 3,000 jobs in the aerospace sector.

US Companies Left Behind

Canada was also considering early-warning aircraft from two US companies, L3Harris and Boeing, before opting for Saab. A spokesman for L3Harris said the company would continue to speak with Canadian officials, while Boeing did not immediately comment.

Carney's Defense Strategy and NATO Commitments

Carney said the GlobalEye initiative is an example of his strategy to build up Canadian manufacturing through higher defense spending. Canada is working to increase defense expenditures toward NATO benchmarks.

Saab Talks and F-35 Deal

Saab and Swedish officials are also pushing Canada to buy Gripen fighter jets instead of Lockheed Martin's F-35s. Carney ordered a review of the F-35 contract last year.