The French authorities is buying two Saab GlobalEye platforms, with an choice for 2 extra, to keep up a reputable and deterrent airborne radar functionality.
Saab introduced on Dec. 30, 2025, that it has been formally contracted by the French Course Générale de l’Armement (Directorate Normal of Armaments – DGA) for the procurement of two GlobalEye Airborne Early Warning and Management (AEW&C) plane. The contract, price Swedish Krona (SEK) 12.3 billion ($1.3 billion), contains floor gear, coaching and assist, with the deliveries anticipated to happen within the 2029-2032 timeframe.
The event follows a Jun. 18, 2025, Letter of Intent (LoI) signed on the Paris Air Present for 2 airframes, with an choice for 2 extra, inked between then French Protection Minister Sébastien Lecornu and his counterpart Pål Jonson. The LoO additionally coated a number of different naval and surface-to-air techniques.
The LoI had been preceded by a yr of hypothesis and stories about France having chosen the GlobalEye to exchange the older E-3F Sentry AWACS, amid a diminishing European functionality within the airborne radar surveillance function. That is particularly after NATO backed out of the E-7A Wedgetail AEW&C program.
The GlobalEye will change the French Air and Area Power’s (Armée de l’Air et de l’Espace/FASF) 4 E-3F Sentry AWACS plane primarily based on the 702 Air Base in Avord and first delivered within the early Nineties. Just like the U.S. Air Power fleet, the plane are beset with maintainability points.
RELEASE: Saab receives order for GlobalEye, together with floor gear, coaching and assist, from France.
— Saab (@Saab) December 31, 2025
French E-3F Sentry fleet and European AEW&C pressure
Throughout the Atlantic, the U.S. Congress, within the FY 2026 Nationwide Protection Authorization Act (NDAA), has pushed again on the cancellation of the E-7A and retirement of the E-3 Sentry. To forestall functionality gaps arising from the present E-3 Sentry AWACS fleet falling beneath 16 plane, the NDAA invoice prohibits the U.S. Air Power from divesting any of these airframes, and expects both a readiness and mission-continuity plan for the E-3 Sentry, or the procurement of enough E-7s.
France too has adopted the same route, presumably to keep up readiness ranges till the arrival of the GlobalEye. Actually, the Course de la Upkeep Aéronautique (Directorate of Aeronautical Upkeep – DMAé) introduced on Nov. 25, 2025, a contract awarded on Oct. 16 to France Industries KLM Engineering and Upkeep to maintain and assist the E-3F fleet for 10 years.
“The AWACS market, established in a spirit of partnership, covers all the fleet exercise, with a requirement for world availability, whereas integrating excessive value-added providers,” the DMAé mentioned. KLM is predicted to supply “in-depth logistics engineering” and “monitoring and anticipatory remedy of obsolescence.”
Aujourd’hui, 36-CB, l’un des 4 @Boeing E-3F Sentry AWACS de l’@Armee_de_lair en upkeep chez Air France Industries, à réalisé un ultime vol d’essai de half-hour sous le soleil Toulousain 🇫🇷
Il est repartis sur la base d’Istres en début d’après-midi.#AWAC #E3Sentry pic.twitter.com/sEcoTd5CZ8
— ©Icare Spotter 📷 / Seletti Nuno (@NunoSeletti) March 29, 2024
Thus, with the E-3F fleet deliberate to be stored lively till 2035 and the 2 Saab GlobalEyes coming by 2032 – assuming that supply doesn’t overshoot the deadline – the FASF for a short interval could be working six AEW&C airframes of two completely different plane sorts. This, mixed with NATO’s personal 14-aircraft E-3A fleet and the Royal Air Power three E-7A Wedgetails, affords the alliance a 23-airframe airborne radar fleet.
After all, this takes into consideration that at the very least 5 of NATO’s older E-3s could be unavailable owing to larger upkeep wants, because the airframes can have accrued extra flight hours.
France contracts Saab
Saab’s press launch, whereas noting the award contains the choice for 2 extra plane, quoted president and CEO Micael Johansson: “[The] order underscores the strong partnership between Saab and France. By choosing GlobalEye, France is investing in a extremely fashionable and succesful Airborne Early Warning & Management answer. This selection reinforces France’s dedication to sovereignty and strengthens Europe’s total safety, with each Sweden and France working GlobalEye.”
Frankrikes beslut att upphandla 2 International Eye kommer att bidra until att ytterligare att fördjupa försvarssamarbetet mellan våra länder och även det strategiska försvarsmaterielsamarbetet. Det kommer också att främja ett närmare samarbete mellan ländernas försvarsföretag. (2/3)
— Pål Jonson (@PlJonson) December 30, 2025
Sweden’s Protection Minister Pål Jonson referred to as the GlobalEye “essential in as we speak’s risk atmosphere” whereas including how Sweden’s protection trade is “strengthening Europe’s protection functionality and safety.” He welcomed the information in regards to the contract saying that “France’s choice to obtain 2 International Eye plane will contribute to additional deepening the protection cooperation between our international locations.”
Saab had additionally beforehand signed a framework settlement with the French plane upkeep and modification supplier Sabena technics for GlobalEye’s plane modification work. “Remodeling the airframe right into a GlobalEye platform includes in depth technically complicated work which requires highly-skilled and devoted personnel,” says the corporate, and this settlement will cowl “complicated plane modification and related providers for GlobalEye.”
“This reenforces Saab’s dedication to collaborate with French trade whereas supporting the growth of our modification capability to fulfill the rising demand for GlobalEye. Sabena technics has the experience and expertise to supply this assist,” says Lars Tossman, head of Saab’s enterprise space Aeronautics.
RELEASE: 🇫🇷 France proclaims intention to obtain GlobalEye
Joint declaration of intent relating to the sale of Saab’s GlobalEye Early Warning and Management (AEW&C) plane to France signed with @DGA. #AEWC #defence #parisairshow pic.twitter.com/2UEiwrpHlX
— Saab (@Saab) June 18, 2025
Saab GlobalEye AEW&C
Saab calls the GlobalEye a “multi-domain AEW&C” platform able to monitoring and detecting targets within the air, sea and land “with an array of lively and passive sensors that present long-range detection and identification.” Saab’s S 106 GlobalEye AEW&C plane is derived from the corporate’s Erieye airborne radar system carried on the Saab 340 AEW, Saab 2000 AEW, and Embraer E-99 aerial platforms. Within the case of GlobalEye, Erieye is put in on the Canadian-made Bombardier International 6000/6500 plane household, Saab says.
The Erieye is predicated across the PS-890 AESA (Lively Electronically Scanned Array) radar, mounted on a particular ‘plank’ above the service plane’s fuselage. Based on Jane’s, it allows a detection vary of as much as 450 km for fighter-sized plane, relying on altitude and the radar cross part.
Together with AEW&C functionality, the upgraded Erieye ER system gives maritime surveillance with a Leonardo SeaSpray 7500E radar, assisted by a FLIR Programs Star Safire 380-HD EO/IR turret. It additionally has a GMTI (Floor Transferring Goal Indication) functionality.
