Contractor:

Northrop Grumman (Prime), Westinghouse

Type:

Early warning and control aircraft

Power Plant:

E-2C: Two Allison T56-A-425 turboprops; each has approximately 4,600 horsepower

E-2C+: Two Allison T56-A-427 engines; each has approximately 5,100 horsepower; since 1988

Accommodations:

Crew of five—two pilots and three operators.

Performance:

E-2C: maximum speed 350 knots; range 1,300 nautical miles

E-2C+: maximum speed 350 knots; range 1,500 nautical miles

Countermeasures:

Not applicable

Armament:

E-2C: Lockheed Martin Ocean, Radar, and Surveillance Systems [ex General Electric Corporation] AN/APS-138 radar since 1984;
AN/APS-139 since 1988

E-2C+: Lockheed Martin Ocean, Radar, and Surveillance Systems [ex General Electric Corporation] AN/APS-145 radar since 1991

All: AN/ALR-73 Passive Detection System, IFF

Mission and Capabilities:

• High-wing, all-weather, carrier-based airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft that patrols task force defense perimeters
• Provides early warning of approaching enemy aircraft and vectors interceptors into attack position
• In addition to its primary AEW function, can also provide strike and traffic control, area surveillance, search and rescue guidance, navigational assistance, communications relay, and drug interdiction.
• Group II upgrade to E-2C+ is the biggest advance in AEW technology in two decades.
• AN/APS-145 radar provides fully automatic overland detection and tracking and significantly extends the radar detection limits. The radar capable of detecting targets anywhere within a three-million-cubic-mile surveillance envelope while simultaneously monitoring maritime traffic.
• An Enhanced High-Speed Processor, which expands the active track file by 400% over previous versions, is incorporated into the mission computer. Each E-2C can maintain all-weather patrols, track, automatically and simultaneously, more than 600 targets, and control more than 40 airborne intercepts.
• Enhanced Main Display Units provide operators with improved visual representation.
• Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS) incorporates several anti-jam features to allow uninterrupted voice and data communications, thereby enhancing interoperability.

Program Summary:

• In service with Naval Air Forces Atlantic and Naval Air Forces Pacific, as well as the armed forces of Israel, Japan, Egypt, Singapore, and Taiwan
• Was delivered to France in 1997
• Discussions with several other potential customers are ongoing.
• The Hawkeye entered service in 1961 as the E-2A and was updated in 1969 to the E-2B.
• E-2C was introduced in 1973.
• In 1978, the AN/APS-125 Advanced Radar Processing System was introduced and was succeeded in 1984 by the AN/APS-138 (now referred to as Group 0).
• Retirement has begun.
• In 1988, Group I version was introduced; this featured an upgraded T56-A-427 engine, which eliminated operating restrictions imposed by growth in the aircraft’s gross weight due to incorporation of new systems.
• Radar was updated to the AN/APS-139 with a High-Speed Processor that doubled the track files maintained by the system.
• Eighteen Group I aircraft were built and are being upgraded to Group II configuration.
• The AN/APS-145 radar alleviates saturation, track overload, and overland tracking clutter.
• Group II increases radar and IFF range, radar volume, target track capability, number of targets displayed, and target recognition capability through the use of color displays.
• Group I and Group II aircraft are also referred to as E-2C+.