Canada’s planned purchase of the Saab GlobalEye surveillance jet faces significant political and technical hurdles if the aircraft is going to be fully integrated into NORAD.
Much of the success or failure of the effort will depend on convincing the Trump administration and the Pentagon to share a key piece of technology that allows fighter jets and early warning systems to communicate while maintaining stealth.
Experts doubt the United States will allow a high-tech data link used exclusively on F-35 fighters to be installed on either the early warning aircraft or the Gripen-E — if Canada chooses to buy that warplane.
