Five US Navy E-2D Hawkeyes set for maiden deployment

A total of five E-2D Advanced Hawkeyes have been assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, Northrop Grumman announced on 12 March.

The five Hawkeyes will replace the E-2C Hawkeyes and will be part of the Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1. They are assigned to the Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 125 and will fulfil the primary role of the outgoing E-2C Hawkeyes, which is to provide airborne early warning and command and control capabilities for all aircraft-carrier battle groups.

The VAW-125 will deploy as part of the CVW-1 on a regularly scheduled deployment of the US fifth and sixth fleet areas of responsibility to conduct maritime security operations, theatre security cooperation efforts and missions in support of land operations.

The E-2D Hawkeyes will also gather and process data more efficiently and precisely with its improved radar and communication equipment.

Cmdr. Daryl Trent, commanding officer, VAW-125, said: 'Suppose you're looking through a pair of goggles, with the E-2C you have 20/20 vision, and with the E-2D you have 20/10.

'It has significantly advanced radar, its computer processing capabilities have been increased and the communication suites have been enhanced. This plane is a real game-changer.'

The E-2D is a multi-mission platform, with its ability to coordinate concurrent mission that may arise during a single flight, such as airborne strikes, ground force support, rescue operations and managing a reliable communications network capable of supporting drug interdiction operations.

The all-glass cockpit of the Advanced Hawkeye also has an entirely digital display, which is an upgrade from the E-2C Hawkeyes that allows the co-pilot to act as the tactical fourth operator.

With the first wave entering operations, the US Navy has plans to continue procuring the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye and replace the Hawkeye through 2023.