France has confirmed an order for Saab’s GlobalEye Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system, building on a declaration of intent signed in June 2025.
The contract, valued at 12.3 billion Swedish krona ($1.3 billion), covers the acquisition of two GlobalEye aircraft along with associated ground systems, training, and long-term support. The agreement also includes an option for France to procure two additional aircraft. Deliveries are planned between 2029 and 2032.
GlobalEye is already in operational service with the United Arab Emirates, which fields five aircraft, and has also been selected by Sweden for its own air force. Saab has additionally proposed the platform to NATO as a potential successor to the alliance’s aging E-3 airborne warning and control fleet.
The GlobalEye platform is based on the Bombardier Global 6000/6500 business jet, featuring a maximum takeoff weight of 99,500 pounds (45,132 kilograms). It is equipped with a multi-domain surveillance suite that includes the Erieye Extended Range radar, an automatic identification system, and electro-optical sensors.
Saab states that the aircraft offers an instrumented detection range exceeding 350 nautical miles and can remain airborne for more than 11 hours. Once operational, the GlobalEye fleet will replace France’s E-3F Sentry aircraft—militarized Boeing 707s that have been in service since 1991 and are expected to retire during the 2030s.
