E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aerial refuelling moves closer

The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Aerial Refuelling system in development with Northrop Grumman has successfully completed the US Navy’s preliminary design review (PDR), the company announced on 3 September. This clears the way for the system to move into Critical Design Review.

Northrop Grumman is developing the system under a $226.7 million engineering, manufacturing and development contract received in 2013.

Under the contract, the company is designing several system upgrades necessary to accommodate an aerial refuelling capability on the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft. These include new seats to enhance pilot field-of-view and decrease crew fatigue; formation lights for better visualisation and air space orientation; and enhanced software in the aircraft's flight control system to assist the pilots with aircraft handling qualities when refuelling.

If successful, the system will be installed on new production E-2Ds as well as retrofitting it onto E-2Ds that are currently operating in the US Navy fleet.

The new capabilities will bring extended range to the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, allowing it to undertake longer range flights. In particular it will enable the aircraft to provide the enhanced maritime security required by the vast geography of the Asia-Pacific for the US and its allies.

Capt. John Lemmon, program manager, E-2/C-2 Airborne Tactical Data System Program Office (PMA-231), said: ‘I'm very pleased with the progress the team has made. Adding an aerial refuelling capability to the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye will extend its critical mission of providing continuous information to the warfighter who depends on it.’

Bart LaGrone, vice president, E-2/C-2 programs, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, added: ‘The greater endurance provided by aerial refuelling provides the warfighter with enhanced surveillance and targeting capability and the persistence needed to accomplish this more effectively. This results in an advanced airborne early warning system that yields greater surveillance for a longer period of time at a greater distance than presently available.

‘The level of information provided to the warfighter will increase exponentially with the extended range and endurance of the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye fleet with aerial refuelling.’

The US Navy's E-2D program of record is for 75 aircraft and there are currently 62 E-2Cs operating in the navy's fleet, with an additional 28 E-2Cs operating in the militaries of Egypt, France, Japan and Taiwan.