The French General Directorate of Armaments (Direction Générale de l’Armement – DGA) contracted Saab on 30 December 2025 to supply two GlobalEye airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, Saab announced the same day.
The value of the order, which includes ground equipment, training and support, is approximately SEK 12.3 billion (EUR 1.14 billion), with deliveries set to take place in the 2029-2032 timeframe. The contract also includes an option for the DGA to purchase an additional two aircraft.
The DGA initially announced its intention to procure GlobalEye AEW&C platforms at the Paris Air Show in June 2025 to replace the French Air and Space Force’s fleet of four Boeing 707-based E-3F Sentry AEW&C platforms, which first entered service in 1990.
Saab’s GlobalEye multi-role AEW&C platform is based on the Bombardier Global 6000/6500 business jet, which can comfortably offer a mission endurance of more than 11 hours. Its main sensor is a dorsally mounted Saab Erieye ER (Extended Range) S-band active electronically scanned-array radar, which Saab states has an instrumented range “well above 650 km”. The Erieye ER’s multi-domain performance allows it to pick up air threats from ballistic missiles to relatively small drones as well as maritime targets down to jet-ski size.
The GlobalEye also features a Leonardo Seaspray 7500E X-band maritime radar mounted under the forward fuselage and a turreted electro-optical/infra-red sensor mounted under the forward fuselage.
The GlobalEye platform is currently in service with the United Arab Emirates, which has five aircraft in service, one of which was borrowed by Saab to appear at this year’s Paris Air Show. Meanwhile, Sweden initially ordered two GlobalEyes in June 2022, but then ordered a third aircraft in June 2024 after donating two Saab 340 AEW&C platforms to Ukraine.
“Today’s order underscores the robust partnership between Saab and France,” Saab President and CEO Micael Johansson was quoted as stating in a Saab press release. “By selecting GlobalEye, France is investing in a highly modern and capable airborne early warning & control solution. This choice reinforces France’s commitment to sovereignty and strengthens Europe’s overall protection, with both Sweden and France operating GlobalEye.”
