France has finalized a $1.34 billion contract with Swedish defense company Saab to acquire two GlobalEye AEW&C aircraft, formally initiating the replacement of its legacy E-3F Sentry airborne early warning fleet. The move represents a significant upgrade to France’s strategic surveillance posture while reinforcing NATO’s collective early warning coverage across Europe and beyond.
Signed on December 30, 2025, by the Direction Générale de l’Armement, the SEK 12.3 billion agreement covers aircraft delivery, mission systems, crew training, and multi-year sustainment support. The program includes an option for two additional platforms, with initial deliveries scheduled between 2029 and 2032, allowing France to scale its airborne early warning capacity in response to emerging threats.
At the core of GlobalEye’s capability is Saab’s Erieye Extended Range radar, a GaN-based AESA system mounted in a fixed dorsal configuration atop the Bombardier Global 6000/6500 airframe. The radar provides long-range detection beyond 550 kilometers and continuous wide-area coverage, offering improved performance against fast-moving, low-flying, and stealthy targets compared to older rotating-dome systems.
The platform’s sensor suite also includes maritime surveillance radar, electro-optical and infrared sensors, signals intelligence payloads, and AIS receivers, enabling simultaneous air, land, and maritime domain awareness. Combined with the endurance and high-altitude performance of the Global 6000 airframe—capable of operating above 50,000 feet for more than 11 hours—GlobalEye delivers persistent surveillance with a reduced logistical footprint, making it well suited for modern European and expeditionary operations.
