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E-2's Advanced Hawkeye Enters SD&D

NAVAIR Release

Press Release Number: E200308041

Release Date: 8/4/2003

Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, MD -- The NAVAIR E-2 program today announced the official commencement of the Systems Development and Demonstration (SD&D) phase of the Advanced Hawkeye (AHE) program with a contract award to the Northrop Grumman Corporation. The contract is valued at approximately $1.9 billion and includes SD&D efforts to begin in fiscal year 2003 and conclude in fiscal year 2013. The Defense Acquisition Board granted approval for the program to enter this phase on June 6, 2003.

The AHE's radar modernization is a key element in the development of the U.S. Navy's newest iteration of the E-2 aircraft. The linchpin of a transformational capability, the Advanced Hawkeye will enable the Navy to continue to play a sizeable and important role in U.S. military strategy. With its new radar, the E-2, long billed as the "eyes of the Fleet", will provide the most technologically advanced command and control capability in the world, with the ability to collect data and supply information to naval and joint forces well ahead of engagement. The first developmental AHE aircraft is scheduled for delivery in 2007 followed by Initial Operating Capability (IOC) in fiscal year 2011.

"The Advanced Hawkeye will provide the enhanced airborne command and control and expanded surveillance umbrella that will be a foundation of SeaPower 21," said NAVAIR E-2/C-2 Program Manager Captain Robert LaBelle. He went on to say, "This new platform will be key in the Navy's role to future military strategy".

The AHE is an all-weather, twin engine, carrier-based, Airborne Early Warning (AEW) aircraft designed to extend task force defense perimeters and expand current capabilities. It uses the Northrop Grumman-built E-2C Hawkeye 2000 configuration as a baseline. Key AHE objectives include: improved battle space target detection and situational awareness, especially in the littorals; support of Theater Air and Missile Defense (TAMD) operations and improved Operational Availability. The existing Hawkeye 2000 AN/APS-145 radar system will be replaced along with other aircraft systems components that enable the radar upgrade. Obsolete or unsupportable components and systems will be upgraded or replaced as required. It is the next upgrade in the long series of upgrades that the Department of Navy has successfully acquired for the E-2C Hawkeye platform since its first flight in 1971.

NAVAIR provides advanced warfare technology through the efforts of a seamless, integrated, worldwide network of aviation technology experts. From professional training to carrier launch; from sensor data to precision targeting; from aircraft and weapons development to successful deployment; from real-time communication to aircraft recovery NAVAIR provides dominant combat effects and matchless capabilities to the American warfighter.