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France Buys Saab GlobalEye Radar Planes for $1.3 Billion

December 30, 2025

1 min read

Key Takeaways

France buys two Saab GlobalEye radar planes.
Deal worth 12.3 billion Swedish Kroner (about $1.3 billion US).
GlobalEye's sensor suite can detect low-flying targets 285 miles away.
France to receive first plane in 2029, second in 2032.

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Strategic Implications

This deal may indicate France's growing reliance on non-US defense suppliers, as it seeks to replace its aging E-3F Sentry fleet. The use of a smaller aircraft like the GlobalEye could also signal a shift towards more cost-effective solutions for air surveillance, potentially benefiting Saab and other European defense contractors.

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What Happened

Saab Secures Major Export Deal with French Air Force

France has finalized a deal to buy two Saab GlobalEye radar surveillance planes worth 12.3 billion Swedish Kroner (about $1.3 billion US). The deal includes ground equipment, training, and other support, with an option to buy two additional aircraft. France will receive the first plane in 2029 and the second by 2032. The GlobalEye is based on a business jet and offers powerful capabilities despite its smaller size, which could lower operating costs and allow use of smaller airfields.

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