U.S. Navy has awarded Northrop Grumman a $3.6 billion fixed price, multiyear contract to deliver 25 E-2D Advanced Hawkeye carrier-based airb...
The deal brings the total number of aircraft on order to 50 of the planned 75 aircraft. Northrop has already delivered 13 production aircraft.
E-2D is the fourth generation of E-2 aircraft platform, which first flew in 1960. The first E-2D was delivered in 2007, with initial operational capability to be reached later this year.
This year also marks fifty years after introduction into service of the first E-2A aircraft in 1964.
The E-2D is the US Navy's primary airborne early warning and battle management command and control platform.
Structurally it features a rotating rotodome providing an unprecedented, 360-degree surveillance and a distinctive four vertical stabilizer tail configuration.
The rotodome houses the powerful AN/APY-9 AESA radar system, which is exclusive to the E-2D. The aircraft also has a new avionics and a glass cockpit.
Lockheed Martin Naval Electronics and Surveillance Systems is the principal AN/APY-9 radar system supplier along with Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems and Raytheon's Space and Airborne Systems.
Rolls-Royce supplies the T-56A turboprop engines while BAE Systems is responsible for the identification friend or foe system and L-3 Communications for the ultra-high frequency electronically scanned array antenna.
