Saab has signed a contract with France’s Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA) and received an order for two GlobalEye Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft, including associated ground equipment, training, and support. The order, valued at approximately SEK 12.3 billion ($250 million), was finalized in France in June 2025.
Deliveries are scheduled between 2029 and 2032, with the contract also granting an option for France to acquire two additional GlobalEye aircraft.
Saab’s President and CEO Micael Johansson stated, “Today’s order underscores the robust partnership between Saab and France. 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.”
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GlobalEye integrates a suite of active and passive sensors, offering long-range detection and identification capabilities across air, sea, and land domains. The system is designed to enhance situational awareness and enable early threat detection for national and allied defense operations.
The GlobalEye platform has previously been acquired by Sweden and the United Arab Emirates, contributing to a growing customer base for multi-domain surveillance solutions in Europe and the Middle East.
France’s procurement is the latest in a series of acquisitions by NATO and EU nations focused on strengthening airborne surveillance capabilities.
Data from the AEW&C market shows a trend toward integrated, multi-role platforms capable of addressing both traditional and emerging threats.
Saab’s GlobalEye competes with Boeing’s E-7 Wedgetail and Northrop Grumman’s E-2D Advanced Hawkeye in a segment where fleet renewals and capability upgrades are ongoing priorities among advanced air forces.