Ottawa chose GlobalEye before confirming military requirements

Ottawa began negotiations to buy six Saab GlobalEye surveillance aircraft without first confirming that the plane met the Canadian military’s full operational needs, according to CBC News. Sources said later assessments found the aircraft covered only part of the requirements and would need modifications before it could be fully operational. The report says the air force had not shared its detailed technical requirements with bidders before the announcement. Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the planned purchase at a defence expo in Ottawa last May, framing it as a deal that could support Canadian jobs and industrial benefits. Defence officials said the government also had to consider cost, supply chains and broader strategic goals, while critics argued the process may have put industrial policy ahead of military capability.