Saab has secured a major AEW&C contract from France for its GlobalEye surveillance aircraft, following a declaration of intent signed in mid-2025.
The 12.3-billion-SEK ($1.3-billion) agreement includes two GlobalEye aircraft, ground support equipment, crew training, and sustainment services, with an option to expand the order by two additional platforms. Deliveries are scheduled to take place between 2029 and 2032.
GlobalEye has already been adopted by the United Arab Emirates, which operates five aircraft, and Sweden has also selected the system for its air force. Saab has further positioned GlobalEye as a candidate to replace NATO’s aging E-3 airborne warning and control aircraft.
Built on the Bombardier Global 6000/6500 airframe, the GlobalEye has a maximum takeoff weight of 99,500 pounds. The aircraft integrates an advanced multi-domain sensor package combining the Erieye Extended Range radar, electro-optical sensors, and an automatic identification system to deliver comprehensive situational awareness.
According to Saab, the platform provides surveillance coverage beyond 350 nautical miles and endurance exceeding 11 hours. In French service, GlobalEye will succeed the E-3F Sentry fleet—Boeing 707-based aircraft that entered service in 1991 and are slated for retirement in the next decade.
