Saab GlobalEye surveillance aircraft in flight equipped with advanced radar and sensors for airborne early warning and ISR missions.
Saab’s GlobalEye airborne early warning aircraft, where new AI integrations aim to enhance real-time sensor analysis and operator decision-making. Image: Saab

Artificial intelligence is moving directly into airborne surveillance systems, as Saab and Canadian AI company Cohere partner to embed it within the GlobalEye.

Under a new memorandum of understanding, the companies will integrate AI into the GlobalEye’s mission systems to process large volumes of sensor data, support operator workflows, and enable real-time decision-making.

The effort reflects Cohere’s focus on secure, enterprise-grade AI designed for deployment in private and on-premises environments handling sensitive data.

“Frontier artificial intelligence should be built for scale, trust, reliability and most importantly, real-world impact,” Cohere co-founder Ivan Zhang said.

The agreement comes as Saab pursues a GlobalEye sale in Canada, where Ottawa is seeking a new fleet of airborne early warning aircraft in a program valued at more than 5 billion Canadian dollars ($3.7 billion), according to The Canadian Press.

Saab said the partnership with Cohere is directly tied to the opportunity while also supporting existing and future operators.

The deal will also explore the use of large language models to support information processing within GlobalEye systems, with the platform built on Bombardier Global 6500 business jet airframes manufactured in Canada.

Saab CEO Micael Johansson pointed to Canada’s “outstanding industrial and advanced technology partners,” saying partnerships like this help strengthen Saab’s global supply chain and competitiveness.

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