E-2T/K Taiwan

Taiwan has acquired four Grumman E-2T airborne early warning aircraft, which has extended the advance warning time of any attack from five to 25 minutes. These aircraft can patrol on station for up to five hours and detect any movement of aircraft or shipping within an area of 150,000 km2, while at the same time simultaneously tracking up to 600 targets and controlling 200 airborne intercepts. Taiwan's E-2T is an all-weather early warning and control system platform. Besides taking the task of the air surveillance that offers the early warning against enemy invading, the aircraft can also provide functions such as guiding fighters to execute interception and control missions, carrying out regional air surveillance and electronic reconnaissance, and assisting search and rescue guidance as well as communications relay.

Since the procurement of four E-2T aircraft from the US on 22 November 1995, aimed at providing country-wide early warning capabilities and bolstering Taiwan's limited protection against naval or air attack from mainland China, Taiwan's national air defense has been secured and maintained. However, these aircraft have been in service for almost a decade, and hence under the 1999 plan, two extra upgraded E-2T aircraft were expected to be delivered in 2005. These new E-2T will be put into service in accordance with the existing four aircraft. They are not only able to extend the surveillance range of radar, but also can carry out all-weather surveillance operations. Furthermore, they satisfy the need for early warning, and secure air superiority in the Taiwan Strait.

In modern wars, "information and electromagnetic dominance" on the battlefield is recognized globally as a key factor to win a war. According to the strategic guideline of the ROC armed forces, "effective deterrence, resolute defense", in 1992, the Air Force was awarded the military procurement budget necessary to purchase four E-2T aircraft from the US, which established airborne early warning system capabilities, and have hitherto contributed much to national security. The MND in 1999 purchased an extra two upgraded E-2T aircraft from the US in order to strengthen air early warning capabilities, which were planned to be delivered in 2005.

In light of the earth's curvature affecting the radar detection distance, when the E-2T are flying at high altitude, radar detection distance is effectively extended, breadth of area is increased, warning reaction time is improved, and aircraft interception control missions are realized - effectively strengthening air defense operations capabilities.

After receiving the two upgraded E-2T in the future, they will be used in accordance with the other four E-2T aircraft. With their mobility, during peacetime, the E-2T will assist land-based combat control systems, providing air surveillance and reconnaissance and filling the gap at the low altitude so as to strengthen air early warning capabilities. Simultaneously, they will execute electronic reconnaissance, supporting various missions such as disaster prevention efforts, tactical testing, drills and exercises. In time of war, the E-2T will be in the appointed air areas, strengthening air surveillance of enemy activities and taking the task of the tactical air control. In case of damage or interference to communications systems and radar posts, the E-2T will immediately be used as a back-up system, being greatly beneficial to the military intelligence and battlefield control.

Such 3-dimensional military operations is essential in modern warfare. With the early warning and air control capabilities that the E-2T provides, the ROC armed forces will secure battlefield superiority and gain momentum for victory. Due to the insufficient defense depth of the island, our defense reaction time is limited. Hence, to establish an effective and reliable early warning system will be able to strengthen early warning capabilities so that the armed forces can adopt appropriate defense measures to ensure the capability of the integrated joint operations and the security of the national soil.

E-2K / E-2T Hawkeye 2000E

On July 31, 1999 the US Department of Defense announced the possible sale to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) in the United States of two E-2T Hawkeye 2000E aircraft, two AN/APS-145 radars, two T56-A-427 engines, two OE-335/A antenna groups, two Mission Computer Upgrade/Advanced Control Indicator Sets, two Passive Detection System upgrades of software laboratory, spare and repair parts, support equipment, supply support, publications, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor engineering and technical services, and other related elements of logistics support. The estimated cost was $400 million. This proposed sale is consistent with United States law and policy, as expressed in Public Law 96-8. The recipient needed these aircraft to augment its existing operational inventory and its self-defense capability. The recipient's Air Force already has four E-2T aircraft in its inventory.

On December 21, 1999 Northrop Grumman Corp., Bethpage, N.Y., was awarded a $104,600,000 modification to previously awarded contract N00019-97-C-0147 multiyear advanced acquisition contract for the procurement of two airborne early warning E-2T aircraft for the government of Taiwan under the Foreign Military Sales Program. Work will be performed in St. Augustine, Fla. (80%), Bethpage, N.Y. (20%), and was expected to be completed by September 2004.

On June 28, 2001 Northrop Grumman Corp., Bethpage, N.Y., was awarded an $11,368,867 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-97-C-0147) for all non-recurring engineering for the Taiwan E-2T aircraft and unique administrative services for the Government of Taiwan under the Foreign Military Sales Program. Work will be performed in Bethpage, N.Y., and is expected to be completed in September 2004.

On August 20, 2001 Northrop Grumman Corp., Bethpage, N.Y., was awarded a $19,500,000 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-97-C-0147) to exercise an option for phase I software engineering efforts to support the E-2T platform for the government of Taiwan under the foreign military sales program. Work will be performed in Bethpage, N.Y., and is expected to be completed in November 2004.

On August 14, 2002 Northrop Grumman Corp., Bethpage, N.Y., was awarded a $9,527,923 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, multi-year contract (N00019-97-C-0147) for the procurement of an E-2T Software Development Lab to support maintenance and development of E-2T mission software for the two Taiwan production aircraft in the Hawkeye 2000E Mission Computer Upgrade/Advanced Control Indicator Set configuration for the Government of Taiwan under the Foreign Military Sales Program. Work will be performed in Bethpage and is to be completed by May 2005. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md. is the contracting activity.

On January 2, 2003 Northrop Grumman, Corp., Bethpage, N.Y., was awarded a $5,958,119 order against a previously awarded basic ordering agreement (N00019-00-G-0280), for E-2T training for the Government of Taiwan under the Foreign Military Sales Program. Work will be performed in Bethpage, N.Y. (90 percent) and St. Augustine, Fla. (10 percent), and is to be completed in June 2005.

On May 4, 2004 Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Bethpage, N.Y., was awarded an $18,167,134 firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of one E-2T Hawkeye 2000 tactics trainer for the government of Taiwan under the Foreign Military Sales Program. Work will be performed in Sterling, Va. (85 percent); Bethpage, N.Y. (10 percent); and Taipei, Taiwan (5 percent), and is expected to be completed in September 2006.

On 15 April 2006 Taiwan commissioned its two new E-2K Hawkeye early-warning and control aircraft at an official ceremony at the Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF) base in Pingdong in southern Taiwan.