France orders Saab GlobalEye AEW&C aircraft in €1bn-plus defence deal

Saab has secured a major defence contract from France’s General Directorate of Armaments (DGA) for two GlobalEye Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft, marking a significant deepening of defence cooperation between the two countries.

The contract, valued at approximately SEK 12.3 billion, covers the aircraft, associated ground equipment, training and long-term support. Deliveries are scheduled to take place between 2029 and 2032. The agreement also includes an option for France to acquire two additional GlobalEye aircraft at a later stage.

Saab described the order as a strategic endorsement of GlobalEye’s capabilities. The system integrates a suite of active and passive sensors to provide long-range detection and identification across air, maritime and land domains, delivering real-time situational awareness and early threat warning to joint forces.

“With this selection, France is investing in a highly modern and capable AEW&C solution,” said Saab President and CEO Michael Johansson, adding that the decision reinforces national sovereignty and strengthens Europe’s overall security posture, with both Sweden and France now operating the GlobalEye platform.

The order positions GlobalEye as a cornerstone capability for France’s future airborne surveillance and command-and-control architecture, amid growing emphasis on multi-domain awareness and European defence autonomy.