Northrop Grumman Copyright Northrop Grumman has successfully completed the first flight of an E-2D Advanced Hawkeye equipped with aeri...
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| Northrop Grumman Copyright |
Northrop Grumman has successfully completed the first flight of an E-2D Advanced Hawkeye equipped with aerial refueling capability.
Under a 2013 engineering, manufacturing, and development (EMD) contract award, Northrop Grumman designed, developed, manufactured, and tested several sub-system upgrades necessary to accommodate an aerial refueling capability.
The aerial refueling capability will allow the E-2D to provide longer on-station times at greater ranges, extending its mission time to better support the warfighter.
The upgrades installed to support aerial refueling include probe and associated piping, electrical and lighting upgrades, and long endurance seats that will enhance field of view in the cockpit and reduce fatigue over longer missions.
The aerial refueling program will modify three aircraft for testing planned through 2018. Production cut-in and retrofit plans are scheduled to begin in 2018.
The E-2D is an all-weather, twin-turboprop carrier-capable tactical airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft mainly operated by U.S. Navy from its aircraft carriers.
