--- title: "Sweden receives its first GlobalEye AEW&C aircraft: Saab unveils the machine with Erieye ER radar" description: "Saab has unveiled the first GlobalEye AEW&C aircraft for the Swedish Air Force, featuring the GaN-based Erieye ER radar with a detection range of over 550 km. It replaces the Saab 340 fleet, which has been transferred to Ukraine." date: 2026-10-18T07:50:35.308Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/sweden-receives-first-globaleye-aewc-saab tags: [saab, globaleye, awacs, sweden, eriye-er, bombardier-global-6000, air-defense, military-aviation] author: "Alexander Buran" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Sweden receives its first GlobalEye AEW&C aircraft: Saab unveils the machine with Erieye ER radar ![Saab GlobalEye airborne early warning aircraft parked at an airshow with a radar on the fuselage](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/18/shveciya-perval-pervyj-samolet-drl-globaleye-saab/shveciya-perval-pervyj-samolet-drl-globaleye-saab-1.webp) ## Key Points - Saab presented the first serial GlobalEye for the Swedish Air Force; flight testing and delivery phase begins - Sweden ordered three aircraft: a two-unit contract signed in 2022, with a third-unit option exercised in 2024 - Erieye ER radar using GaN technology enables 550+ km detection of small RCS targets (+70% improvement) - GlobalEye replaces the Saab 340 systems, which were transferred to Ukraine - Bombardier Global 6000 airframe allows for 11+ hours of endurance at 10–11 km altitude Saab has officially unveiled the first serial GlobalEye airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, equipped with a long-range radar system, for the Swedish Air Force. The manufacturer announced this on its corporate website. The machine's presentation marks the project's transition to the flight testing and onboard systems verification phase. The aircraft will soon perform its maiden flight, followed by the final delivery process to the customer, the Swedish Ministry of Defense. ### Three machines replacing the aging Saab 340s The Swedish Air Force expects a total of three GlobalEye aircraft. The contract for the first two units was signed by the government in 2022; the agreement included an option for additional aircraft, which Stockholm exercised in 2024 by ordering a third unit. These new machines will fully replace the obsolete Saab 340 AEW&C system that has been in service with the Swedish Air Force for several decades. Notably, the Saab 340 aircraft have already been transferred to Ukraine, making the switch to the GlobalEye not only a technological upgrade but also a geopolitical move within the framework of European defense redistribution. ### Erieye ER radar: +70% detection range Development of the GlobalEye system began in the 2010s, based on the Bombardier Global 6000 business jet airframe. The core element of the reconnaissance complex is the Erieye ER (Extended Range) active electronically scanned array radar, operating in the S-band. The antenna is housed in a distinctive vertical structure atop the fuselage — an element that makes the GlobalEye visually recognizable in photographs and air show footage. By switching to Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology, developers have increased target detection range by 70% compared to previous Erieye iterations. The radar is capable of detecting aerial targets with a low radar cross-section — cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles — at a distance exceeding 550 kilometers. ### Multi-sensor architecture and data integration Beyond the primary radar, the GlobalEye carries the Leonardo Seaspray multi-mode ground and maritime surveillance radar, mounted under the fuselage, as well as electro-optical and infrared sensors, electronic intelligence (ELINT) equipment, and self-defense suites. The flight deck and operator workstations are connected via a unified onboard network, enabling real-time situational data transfer to ground control centers, warships, and fighter jets. According to Saab, the Bombardier Global 6000 airframe enables over 11 hours of continuous flight endurance without refueling at an operational altitude of 10–11 km, which is critical for long-duration airspace patrol missions. ### International program context Beyond Sweden, the United Arab Emirates is among the primary international customers for the GlobalEye. Thus, the program forms a limited but technologically sophisticated group of operators. For Sweden, the introduction of the GlobalEye fills a multi-year gap in airborne surveillance and control capabilities that emerged following the decommissioning of the Saab 340s and their transfer abroad. In the context of increasing defense budgets across NATO’s Northeastern flank, the ability to detect small aerial targets at ranges over 550 km is becoming a key efficiency criterion for AEW&C systems. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [Швеция переоснащается самолетами ДРЛО GlobalEye после поставки Украине самолетов Saab 340.](https://www.vietnam.vn/ru/thuy-dien-tai-trang-bi-globaleye-awacs-sau-khi-giao-saab-340-cho-ukraine) - Saab corporate announcement: unveiling of the first GlobalEye, contract history (2022, 2024), technical specifications of the Erieye ER radar, Bombardier Global 6000 platform, and international customers. All data is consistent with Saab's public statements. ## FAQ ### What is the GlobalEye and what is its purpose? GlobalEye is an airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft based on the Bombardier Global 6000 business jet, equipped with the Erieye ER radar. It is designed to detect air, land, and sea targets and transmit data in real-time to ground control stations, ships, and fighters. ### How many GlobalEye aircraft will Sweden receive? A total of three. The contract for the first two was signed in 2022, and the option for the third was exercised in 2024. ### What radar is installed on the GlobalEye and what are its features? The primary radar is the Erieye ER (Extended Range) with an active phased array in the S-band using GaN technology. Its detection range for low-RCS targets (cruise missiles, UAVs) is over 550 km, which is 70% higher than previous Erieye versions. ### What does the GlobalEye replace in the Swedish Air Force? The obsolete Saab 340 AEW&C system, which had been in service for several decades. The Saab 340 aircraft have already been transferred to Ukraine. ### What is the flight endurance of the GlobalEye? More than 11 hours of continuous operation without refueling at an operational altitude of 10–11 km, provided by the Bombardier Global 6000 platform.