Saab GlobalEye Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft | Photo: Saab
Saab announced on Thursday that France has decided to acquire its GlobalEye Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft.
A statement from the Swedish company said ‘Saab and the French defence procurement agency, Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA), have today signed a joint declaration of intent regarding the sale of Saab’s GlobalEye Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft to France, including ground equipment, training and support.’
Saab’s President and CEO, Micael Johansson said in the statement, ”We welcome today’s announcement by France about the intention to procure GlobalEye, which will enhance the French Armed Forces’ situational awareness and threat detection across the air, land and sea domains. Our solution will enable France to maintain full sovereign control of its airborne early warning and control capability.”
The declaration at the Paris Air Show this week said the French DGA planned to buy two GlobalEye aircraft with an option for an additional two platforms. France currently operates four Boeing E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft, which first entered service in 1991.
RELEASE: 🇫🇷 France announces intention to procure GlobalEye
Joint declaration of intent regarding the sale of Saab’s GlobalEye Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft to France signed with @DGA. #AEWC #defence #parisairshow https://t.co/t8V7WYSAc6 pic.twitter.com/2UEiwrpHlX
— Saab (@Saab) June 18, 2025
The company explained that an order has not yet been placed and could be expected in the ‘coming months.’ But Saab has gone ahead and ‘signed a framework agreement with the French aircraft maintenance and modification provider Sabena technics relating to aircraft modification work for Saab’s GlobalEye Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft,’ which it said is intended to ‘form the basis for future business between the companies, covering complex aircraft modification and associated services for GlobalEye.’
The Saab GlobalEye is a multi-domain AEW&C solution that includes an array of active and passive sensors onboard the Bombardier’s Global 6000/6500 business jet aircraft for long-range detection and identification of objects in the air, at sea and over land in real-time.
Five GlobalEye aircraft are in service in the United Arab Emirates. Sweden has ordered three aircraft with an option for one additional platform. The aircraft has also been offered to Canada where it is competing against the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail.
Saab’s President and CEO, Micael Johansson, with Bombardier’s President and CEO, Eric Martel | Photo: Bombardier
Meanwhile, Canadian aircraft manufacturer Bombardier announced on Friday that Saab has placed a firm order for two Bombardier Global 6500 aircraft. A statement from the company quoted President and Chief Executive Officer of Bombardier, Eric Martel, as saying, “Through Bombardier Defense, the Global 6500 aircraft is the go-to strategic asset for governments around the world looking to modernize and strengthen their defense capabilities. Bombardier Global aircraft are ideally suited for the most demanding missions, with proven flexibility, reliability, power generation, range and ability to operate at high altitudes.”
Bombardier noted that ‘with a top speed of Mach 0.90 and a maximum range of 6,600 nautical miles (12,223 km), the Bombardier Global 6500 aircraft achieves faster and farther travel,’ and ‘Leveraging experience derived from a fleet of more than 500 special mission aircraft and an operational track record of over 3 million fleet hours, Bombardier Defense has become the go-to provider of airborne solutions for the most critical missions.’
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