France Acquires 2 Saab GlobalEye Surveillance Jets
France has officially signed a $1.3 billion contract with Swedish defense firm Saab to acquire two GlobalEye airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, marking a significant step in bolstering its strategic surveillance and airspace command capabilities. According to the article “France Finalizes $1.3B USD Contract For 2 Saab GlobalEye Radar Planes” published on Breaking Defense, the agreement was finalized after months of negotiation, placing France among a growing group of nations investing in advanced AEW&C platforms.
The GlobalEye system integrates powerful radar and sensor systems on a Bombardier Global 6000 aircraft platform, offering multi-domain surveillance capabilities across air, land, and sea. Its ability to detect and track low-observable targets—such as cruise missiles and stealth aircraft—at long ranges is expected to provide the French Air and Space Force with a significant strategic advantage.
The contract follows France’s 2023 announcement of its intention to move away from its aging E-3F Sentry fleet, which has been in service since the 1990s. Officials from France’s defense procurement agency, the Direction générale de l’armement (DGA), have emphasized the urgency of modernizing national surveillance capabilities, especially amid increasing geopolitical uncertainty near Europe’s periphery.
According to Breaking Defense, the French deal includes not only the delivery of the two aircraft but also spare parts, training, and stand-up of support infrastructure. Initial deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2027, with full operational capability expected by the end of the decade.
This contract adds France to a select list of GlobalEye export customers, including Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, and Finland. The deal also underscores a growing trend among Western allies to enhance their early warning capacity in response to evolving air and missile threats, including those posed by near-peer competitors.
Saab CEO Micael Johansson described the agreement with France as a “clear demonstration” of Europe’s trust in Saab’s surveillance technologies. He also noted that the deal would support domestic jobs and further strengthen France-Sweden defense industrial ties.
As Europe continues to reassess its defense posture in the wake of the war in Ukraine and heightened tensions in the Indo-Pacific, France’s decision signals not only a technological upgrade but a broader reorientation toward networked, resilient defense ecosystems. The addition of GlobalEye is expected to enhance France’s contributions to NATO’s integrated air and missile defense architecture, reinforcing allied detection and response capabilities in contested environments.
French officials have not ruled out the possibility of acquiring additional GlobalEye units in the future, should operational needs evolve. In the meantime, this procurement represents one of France’s most significant AEW&C modernization commitments in recent decades.
