Toronto, March 24 — Swedish aerospace and defence company Saab has signed a strategic agreement with Canadian artificial intelligence firm Cohere to integrate advanced language models into Saab’s Global Eye airborne surveillance systems, marking a significant milestone for Canada’s AI sector.
The partnership, announced Monday, will see Cohere’s enterprise AI technology deployed to enhance data analysis capabilities on Saab’s Global Eye aircraft, which provide airborne early warning and control capabilities to military customers around the world.
“This collaboration represents a new frontier in defence technology,” said Aidan Gomez, co-founder and CEO of Cohere. “By combining Saab’s expertise in aerospace systems with our advanced language models, we’re creating capabilities that will transform how military operators process and act on intelligence.”
Global Eye is Saab’s flagship airborne surveillance platform, built on modified Bombardier aircraft and equipped with advanced radar and sensor systems. The addition of Cohere’s AI technology will enable operators to interact with surveillance data using natural language queries and receive intelligent analysis of potential threats.
The deal represents a major win for Toronto-based Cohere, which has emerged as one of Canada’s most valuable technology companies since its founding in 2019. The company has raised over $900 million in funding and has focused on building enterprise-grade AI systems for business applications.
For Saab, the partnership offers access to cutting-edge AI capabilities without the massive investment required to develop such technology in-house. The Swedish company has been expanding its presence in the Canadian market, building on its acquisition of Bombardier’s aerostructures business in 2020.
“Canada has emerged as a global hub for artificial intelligence research and development,” said Micael Johansson, Saab’s president and CEO. “Partnering with Cohere allows us to integrate world-class AI capabilities into our defence systems while supporting the growth of Canada’s technology sector.”
The integration of Cohere’s technology into Global Eye systems is expected to begin later this year, with full deployment scheduled for 2026. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Industry analysts view the partnership as indicative of a broader trend toward collaboration between established defence contractors and AI startups. Traditional military suppliers are increasingly seeking partnerships with technology companies to incorporate artificial intelligence into their products.
“Defence procurement is being transformed by AI,” said David Perry, defence procurement expert at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute. “Companies that can successfully integrate these technologies will have a significant competitive advantage in the global market.”
The deal also highlights the growing strategic importance of Canada’s AI sector. Federal officials have identified artificial intelligence as a key technology area for national security and economic competitiveness, with substantial government funding allocated to support domestic AI development.
“Partnerships like this demonstrate that Canadian AI companies can compete at the highest levels globally,” said François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry. “We’re committed to ensuring Canada remains a leader in this critical technology.”
Source: Cohere Inc.; Saab AB; Industry Canada
