Following the decision earlier this year to proceed with full-rate production, US Navy has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation a $113....
Following the decision earlier this year to proceed with full-rate production, US Navy has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation a $113.7 million advance acquisition contract for long lead materials and related support for five full-rate production Lot 2 E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft
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With the Navy's E-2D program of record at 75 aircraft, this contract award is another step forward in bringing the total current procurement of E-2D aircraft, including low-rate initial production and full-rate production aircraft, to 30.
Last month, Northrop Grumman delivered the 10th E-2D Advanced Hawkeye to the U.S. Navy, having delivered the first nine aircraft on or ahead of schedule. There are currently an additional 10 aircraft in various stages of manufacturing and predelivery flight testing at the company's Aircraft Integration Center of Excellence in St. Augustine, Florida. Initial operational capability with the U.S. Navy remains on track for 2015.
The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye is a battle management command and control aircraft, which serve as the "digital quarterback" to sweep ahead of strike, manage the mission, and keep net-centric carrier battle groups out of harms. The E-2D gives the warfighter expanded battlespace awareness,especially in the area of information operations delivering battle management, theater air and missile defense, and multiple sensor fusion capabilities in an airborne system.
