France Picks Saab GlobalEye as E-3F AWACS Successor

France and Sweden have signed a letter of intent at the 2025 Paris Air Show for France’s acquisition of Saab’s GlobalEye Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft to replace its aging E-3F Sentry AWACS fleet. Defense ministers Sébastien Lecornu and Pål Johansson formalized the agreement on June 18, 2025, covering two GlobalEye aircraft with an option for two additional units.

Strategic Partnership Expands Defense Scope

The joint declaration extends beyond aircraft procurement, encompassing MBDA’s Akeron MP anti-tank guided missile and establishing a broader framework for Franco-Swedish defense cooperation. This agreement follows a January 2024 letter of intent between MBDA and Saab for Akeron MP procurement for both nations’ armed forces, demonstrating sustained bilateral defense collaboration.

E‑3F Sentry Fleet on Maintenance Brink

The French Air and Space Force’s four E-3F Sentry AWACS aircraft, delivered in the early 1990s, suffer from significant maintainability issues requiring urgent replacement. Similar challenges face other E-3 operators, including the U.S. Air Force and NATO, creating a global need for next-generation airborne early warning capabilities.

Letter of Intent Establishes Procurement Framework

While the agreement represents a significant milestone, Saab clarified that parties have not yet entered into a final contract, with notification processes and formal contracting expected in coming months. The Direction générale de l’armement (DGA) described the agreements as a “roadmap” for strengthening bilateral armaments cooperation between France and Sweden.

Multi-Domain Surveillance Capabilities Enhanced

Saab’s GlobalEye provides advanced multi-domain AEW&C capabilities with active and passive sensor arrays enabling long-range detection and identification across air, land, and sea domains. The platform delivers real-time information enhancing situational awareness and early threat detection for military forces across multiple operational environments.

Erieye Radar System Powers Advanced Detection

The GlobalEye utilizes Saab’s proven Erieye radar system, derived from installations on Saab 340 AEW, Saab 2000 AEW, and Embraer E-99 platforms. Mounted on the Bombardier Global 6000/6500 aircraft family, the PS-890 AESA radar provides detection ranges up to 450 kilometers for fighter-sized aircraft, depending on altitude and radar cross-section characteristics.

Maritime and Ground Surveillance Integration

Beyond airborne surveillance, the upgraded Erieye ER system incorporates Leonardo SeaSpray 7500E radar for maritime surveillance, supported by FLIR Systems Star Safire 380-HD electro-optical/infrared turret. Ground Moving Target Indication (GMTI) capability further enhances the platform’s multi-domain surveillance effectiveness.

Strengthens Domestic Capabilities

Saab has established a framework agreement with French maintenance provider Sabena technics for GlobalEye aircraft modifications, ensuring French industry participation in the program. This partnership addresses the technically complex aircraft transformation work while expanding Saab’s modification capacity to meet growing GlobalEye demand.

Dassault Falcon 10X Option Eliminated

The agreement effectively ends speculation about Dassault Aviation’s Falcon 10X serving as France’s AEW&C carrier aircraft. Despite Dassault CEO Éric Trappier’s advocacy for the domestic option before French lawmakers, the ultra-long-range business jet’s late-2027 service entry timeline could not compete with GlobalEye’s proven capabilities.

Operational Testing Validates Platform Selection

A GlobalEye aircraft conducted five-day evaluation flights from Mont-de-Marsan Air Base in April 2024, allowing the Centre d’Expertise Aérienne Militaire to assess the platform’s capabilities. This testing phase, combined with high-level diplomatic discussions during President Macron’s January 2024 Sweden visit, laid groundwork for the current agreement.

Contested Environment Operations Prioritized

The DGA emphasized GlobalEye’s ability to operate in degraded and contested environments within multinational and inter-allied frameworks. This capability addresses modern warfare requirements where traditional AEW&C platforms face increasing electronic warfare threats and sophisticated air defense systems.

Strategic Sovereignty Maintained

Saab President and CEO Micael Johansson highlighted that GlobalEye enables France to maintain full sovereign control over its airborne early warning capabilities. This sovereignty aspect proves crucial as France seeks to reduce dependence on aging NATO-shared assets while maintaining independent defense capabilities.

Also read this: Indonesia Buys 48 Turkish Kaan Fighter Jets

Broader Cooperation Framework Established

The agreements encompass additional defense systems including Meteor missiles, medium-range Aster missiles, short-range air defense systems, and potential French defense and intervention frigate participation in Sweden’s next-generation surface ship program. This comprehensive approach strengthens bilateral defense industrial cooperation.

The France-Sweden GlobalEye agreement represents a significant shift in European defense cooperation, combining proven technology with strategic partnership to address critical airborne early warning requirements while strengthening bilateral defense industrial capabilities in an increasingly complex security environment.

Keep connected with us at Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram & TikTok for latest defense happening around the globe.