Northrop Grumman and U.S. Navy has successfully conducted the preliminary design review (PDR) of the aerial refueling capability for the lat...
The aerial refueling is one of the major new feature added to the latest D version, extending range and improving surveillance and persistence required for maritime operations.
Next the program will proceed to its critical design review, moving closer to manufacturing the system and installing it on new production E-2Ds as well as retrofitting it onto E-2Ds that are currently operated by US Navy.
The $226.7 million engineering, manufacturing and development contract was awarded to Northrop in 2013. Under the contract, Northrop is designing several system upgrades necessary to accommodate an aerial refueling capability including new seats to enhance pilot field-of-view and decrease crew fatigue. formation lights for better visualization and air space orientation and enhanced software in the aircraft's flight control system to assist the pilots with aircraft handling qualities when refueling.
The Advanced Hawkeye will feature a completely new APY-9 AESA radar featuring 360-degree radar coverage, providing uncompromised all-weather tracking and situational awareness with considerable anti stealth capability , fully integrated all glass cockpit, advanced Identification Friend or Foe System, new mission computer and tactical workstations.
E-2 Hawkeye is a carrier borne Airborne Early Warning (AEW) aircraft, designed to give long-range warning of incoming aerial threats, which first flew in 1960. The fourth generation E-2D was first delivered in 2007, with initial operational capability to be reached later this year.
A distinguishing feature of the Hawkeye is its 24-foot (7.3 m) diameter rotating dome that is mounted above its fuselage and wings. This carries the E-2's primary antennas for its long-range radar and IFF systems.
The E-2D is the US Navy's primary airborne early warning and battle management command and control platform. U.S. Navy has recently awarded Northrop Grumman a $3.6 billion fixed price, multi year contract to deliver 25 E-2Ds.
Navy plans to acquire 75 E-2Ds and there are currently 62 E-2Cs operating in the it's fleet, with an additional 28 E-2Cs operating in the militaries of Egypt, France, Japan and Taiwan.
The E-2 is equipped with a tail hook for carrier landings, and takesoff using the aircraft carrier's catapults.
Secondary roles include strike command and control, land and maritime surveillance, search and rescue, communications relay.
