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NATO members announced a series of major air capability projects on July 7, 2026, aimed at strengthening the alliance’s intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, air transport, and refueling capabilities as leaders gathered in Ankara for the 2026 NATO Summit.

Speaking at the NATO Defense Industry Forum, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte unveiled plans to acquire up to five Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton high-altitude surveillance drones, expand NATO’s aerial refueling fleet, establish a multinational strategic air transport fleet, and replace the alliance’s aging airborne early warning aircraft with Saab GlobalEye platforms.

The initiatives are part of NATO’s broader effort to improve military readiness and respond to evolving security challenges across Europe and the North Atlantic.

MQ-4C Triton Drones

One of the most significant announcements was NATO’s plan to purchase up to MQ-4C Triton unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), marking the alliance’s first acquisition of the advanced surveillance platform.

Norway, Finland, Germany, and Denmark signed a letter of intent supporting the planned procurement. Built by U.S. defense company Northrop Grumman, the MQ-4C Triton is a high-altitude, long-endurance drone designed primarily for maritime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.

The aircraft can operate above 50,000 feet for more than 24 hours and has a range of approximately 7,400 nautical miles (13,705 kilometers), allowing it to monitor vast areas of ocean and coastline during a single mission.

Rutte said the new aircraft would improve NATO’s ability to detect threats at an early stage, protect critical sea lines of communication, and support operations in strategically important regions, including the High North.

“These aircraft can fly for long periods at high altitude and cover large areas, including over open water, more efficiently than most other aircraft can,” he said. He stressed that intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance remain essential for the alliance’s decision-making process.

“Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance is a vital capability for the alliance, as it provides the situational awareness needed to make the right decisions and stay ahead of threats,” Rutte said. “Today, allies are taking a concrete step to strengthen this capability.”

The new Triton drones will complement NATO’s existing fleet of RQ-4D Phoenix surveillance drones, which are based at Sigonella Air Base in Sicily, Italy. Both aircraft are derived from Northrop Grumman’s Global Hawk platform and support NATO’s ground surveillance program.

According to Rutte, Northrop Grumman will manufacture the aircraft, while European companies will contribute to mission support systems, data infrastructure, and other related capabilities. “It is genuinely made in NATO and is creating jobs on both sides of the Atlantic,” he said. Currently, the MQ-4C Triton is operated by the U.S. Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force.

Strategic transport and aerial refueling expanded

Rutte also announced the creation of a multinational strategic air transport fleet based on Airbus A400M military transport aircraft.

The new fleet is intended to strengthen NATO’s ability to rapidly move troops, equipment, and humanitarian supplies during military operations and crisis response missions.

In addition, NATO will expand its existing Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) fleet by adding another aircraft, increasing the alliance’s air-to-air refueling capacity.

The MRTT program currently includes Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and Sweden. The additional tanker aircraft will enhance NATO’s ability to support long-range air operations and improve the alliance’s overall deterrence posture.

GlobalEye to Replace Aging AWACS Fleet

As part of the modernization program, NATO also announced plans to acquire 10 Saab GlobalEye airborne surveillance aircraft to replace its aging E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) fleet.

The GlobalEye combines airborne early warning, maritime surveillance, and ground surveillance capabilities into a single platform, providing commanders with a more advanced picture of the operational environment.

The replacement is expected to modernize one of NATO’s key airborne command and surveillance capabilities after decades of service by the AWACS fleet.

Broader NATO Modernization

The announcements came during the opening of the NATO Defense Industry Forum, held alongside the NATO Summit in Ankara. Rutte said the projects demonstrate growing cooperation between North American and European defense industries while supporting NATO’s long-term modernization goals.

He noted that allied governments and defense companies are signing projects worth billions of U.S. dollars during the summit, with investments expected to strengthen collective security while supporting industrial production and creating jobs across both sides of the Atlantic.

The capability initiatives also reflect NATO’s continued emphasis on increasing defense investment, improving military readiness, and expanding advanced surveillance and air support assets in response to an increasingly complex security environment.

The summit continues in Ankara, with allied leaders expected to discuss defense spending, support for Ukraine, regional security, and the future direction of NATO’s military strategy.