France’s selection of Saab’s GlobalEye AEW&C aircraft represents a major leap in airborne surveillance and battle management capability as Europe faces increasingly complex air and missile threats. Valued at approximately $1.34 billion, the contract covers two aircraft equipped with the Erieye ER GaN-based AESA radar, capable of monitoring hundreds of kilometers of airspace with rapid update rates and high resilience against jamming. Mounted on the long-range Bombardier Global 6000 jet, GlobalEye offers extended endurance, reduced operating costs, and a smaller logistical footprint compared to legacy platforms. Beyond air surveillance, the aircraft integrates maritime, signals intelligence, and electro-optical sensors, enabling multi-domain situational awareness. French defense planners view GlobalEye as a flexible, future-proof platform that will anchor national and NATO early warning coverage well into the 2030s.
