Saab has secured a 10.1-billion Swedish krona ($1 billion) contract to provide its flagship GlobalEye airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft for a customer in the Middle East.
The order was placed for two of the spy planes, with deliveries scheduled by 2030.
The Swedish aerospace company declined to provide further details, citing customer confidentiality and national security interests.
GlobalEye is an advanced capability blending extended-range active electronically scanned array radar, next-generation avionics, and modern sensor suites to monitor targets in the air, at sea, and on the ground.
The aircraft, based on Bombardier’s Global 6000/6500 business jet, has a service ceiling of up to 35,000 feet (10,668 meters), 12 hours of endurance, a flight range of up to 6,000 nautical miles (6,905 miles/11,112 kilometers), and detection coverage of up to 350 nautical miles (403 miles/648 kilometers).
“This order underscores our commitment to providing customers with mission-proven, multi-domain AEW&C capability,” Saab CEO and President Micael Johansson commented on the deal.
“The increasing international interest in GlobalEye reflects its effectiveness and reliability in modern air defence operations.”
GlobalEye in Partner Countries
The sale follows NATO’s decision to acquire up to 10 GlobalEye systems to modernize its aging AEW&C fleet.
Canada also bypassed US alternatives Boeing and L3Harris in May, selecting Saab to build its new Arctic surveillance fleet based on the proven Swedish platform.
Additionally, France placed a $1.3-billion order in early January for two GlobalEye aircraft and associated support equipment, with deliveries scheduled between 2029 and 2032.
