OSLO — Swedish defense company Saab has received a contract worth 10.1 billion Swedish crowns ($1.04 billion) to supply two GlobalEye Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft to an undisclosed customer in the Middle East. The company announced the order on Monday and said deliveries are scheduled for 2030.
Saab did not identify the customer, stating that no additional information about the country or the agreement would be released because of the nature of the defense industry, customer-related circumstances, and national security considerations.
The order represents another export contract for Saab's GlobalEye airborne surveillance platform, which has attracted growing interest from countries seeking advanced intelligence, surveillance, and early warning capabilities.
Saab President and CEO Micael Johansson said the order reflects increasing international demand for the aircraft.
"This order underscores our commitment to providing customers with mission-proven, multi-domain AEW&C capability. The increasing international interest in GlobalEye reflects its effectiveness and reliability in modern air defence operations," Johansson said.
GlobalEye Airborne Surveillance System
GlobalEye is Saab's Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) platform designed to provide long-range surveillance across air, sea, and land. The aircraft is built on the Bombardier Global 6000/6500 business jet and combines Saab's Erieye Extended Range (ER) Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar with additional sensors and a multi-domain command and control system.
The aircraft is equipped with active and passive sensors that provide real-time detection, tracking, and identification of objects across multiple operational environments. According to Saab, the system supports situational awareness and early identification of potential threats.
Its sensor suite includes:
- Erieye ER AESA radar for long-range air surveillance.
- Maritime surveillance radar for monitoring targets at sea.
- Electro-optical sensors for visual observation and target identification.
- Electronic Support Measures (ESM) for detecting and analyzing electronic emissions.
The integrated sensor package enables operators to monitor aircraft, ships, cruise missiles, drones, and selected ground targets simultaneously while sharing real-time information with air defense networks, naval forces, and ground units.
The Bombardier Global 6000/6500 platform provides more than 12 hours of operational endurance in typical configurations. The aircraft has a range of approximately 11,100 kilometers, can fly at speeds of around Mach 0.85, and typically operates with a combined flight and mission crew of seven to nine personnel.
Unlike earlier airborne warning aircraft primarily designed for air surveillance, GlobalEye is intended for multi-domain surveillance, allowing military commanders to receive a comprehensive operational picture from a single airborne platform.
Middle East Remains an Important Market
The latest order further strengthens Saab's presence in the Middle East, where countries continue investing in intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), and integrated air defense capabilities.
The United Arab Emirates remains the launch customer and the only publicly confirmed Middle Eastern operator of the GlobalEye system. The UAE has received five aircraft under previous contracts. Saab has also received orders from Sweden for the platform and has previously discussed interest from other countries in the region, including Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
Airborne early warning aircraft such as GlobalEye extend radar coverage beyond the limitations of ground-based radar systems, improving the detection of low-flying aircraft, cruise missiles, and unmanned aerial systems while supporting faster decision-making during air defense operations.
Adds to Saab's Order Backlog
The new contract adds to Saab's growing order backlog as governments continue investing in advanced surveillance and integrated defense systems.
Headquartered in Sweden, Saab develops and manufactures systems across aeronautics, weapons, command and control, sensors, and underwater systems. The company employs approximately 28,000 people.
Saab stated that deliveries of the two GlobalEye aircraft will be completed in 2030, while no further information regarding the customer or the contract will be disclosed.
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