Northrop Grumman begins production of E-2D Advanced Hawkeye for French Navy

Northrop Grumman Corporation has officially commenced production of the first E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft for the French Navy.  

A ceremony marking the milestone occurred at the company’s manufacturing facility in St. Augustine, Florida, attended by representatives from the French Navy, Northrop Grumman, the US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), and the US Navy International Programs Office. 

The company is contracted to deliver three E-2D Advanced Hawkeyes to France, with the first scheduled for delivery in 2027. These aircraft will replace the French Navy’s aging fleet of E-2C Hawkeye 2000s, which have been in service for more than 25 years. The contract for the three E-2D Advanced Hawkeyes, valued at nearly $360 million, was first announced by the US Department of Defense in December 2021. 

The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye represents a significant technological advancement over its predecessor. Equipped with the Lockheed Martin APY-9 radar, the aircraft can detect air and surface targets simultaneously within a range of more than 500 kilometers (270 nautical miles). Additionally, the E-2D introduces aerial refueling capabilities, vastly extending its operational range. 

To prepare for the introduction of the E-2D, the French Navy recently tested the NARANG refueling pod on the Rafale M fighter jet by refueling a slower aircraft. An A400M transport aircraft was used as a testbed to simulate the reduced speed of the Advanced Hawkeye. 

“Our partnership with France goes back over 25 years,” commented Janice Zilch, Northrop Grumman’s Vice President for multi-domain command and control programs. “We are proud to have supported the French Navy with the Hawkeye 2000, and we look forward to providing a generational leap in decision dominance with the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye.” 

France is the only nation besides the United States to operate the Hawkeye from an aircraft carrier, deploying them with the Charles de Gaulle carrier strike group. The E-2C Hawkeye 2000 has played a crucial role in France’s air defense and carrier operations, fostering interoperability between French and US forces during joint exercises. 

In March 2022, the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye demonstrated its compatibility with French naval operations when a US Navy E-2D successfully landed on the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier. The post Northrop Grumman begins production of E-2D Advanced Hawkeye for French Navy appeared first on AeroTime.

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