The US Naval Air Systems Command has awarded Northrop Grumman a contract for long lead materials and related support for five full-rate production Lot 2 E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft, worth $113.7 million.
The deal, announced 18 July, follows the Defense Acquisition Board's decision in January to proceed with full-rate production of the E-2D, after the aircraft passed an Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) report.
With the navy's E-2D programme of record at 75 aircraft, this contract award is another step forward in bringing the total procurement of E-2D aircraft, including low-rate initial production and full-rate production aircraft, to 30.
Northrop Grumman delivered the 10th E-2D Advanced Hawkeye to the US Navy in June, having delivered the first nine aircraft on or ahead of schedule.
There are currently ten additional aircraft in various stages of manufacturing and pre-delivery flight testing at the company's Aircraft Integration Center of Excellence in St. Augustine, Fla.
The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye is scheduled to achieve initial operational capability in 2015.