Grumman E-2 Hawkeye

The next production run between 1988 and 1991 saw 18 aircraft built to the Group I standard.

These Group I replaced the E-2's older APS-125 radar and T56-A-425 turboprops with their improvements, APS-139 radar systems and T56-A-427 turboprops.

A total of 18 Group I aircraft were built with the first entering service on August 1981.

It was thought of upgrading the old Group 0 machines to the same spec, but once a service-life extension program was factored in the upgrade was about as expensive as a new-build aircraft, and it didn't happen.

This version was only flown by the Atlantic fleet squadrons.

This version of the E-2 was followed within a few years by the more-improved Group II, which had the better APS-145 radar.

The Group II has been incrementally upgraded with new [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] systems, better situational displays, and computerized electronics, culminating in the E-2C Hawkeye 2000 variant (sometimes called the Group III).

A total of 50 Group II aircraft were delivered, 12 being upgraded Group I aircraft.

This new version entered service in June 1992 and served with the Pacific and Atlantic Fleet squadrons.

By 1997 the US Navy intended that all the front-line squadrons would be equipped with a total of 75 Group II aircraft.

However, Grumman merged with Northrop in 1994 and plans began to be done for the next upgrade, known as the Group II Plus, which eventually became known as the Hawkeye 2000.

The Hawkeye 2000 featured the APS-145 radar with a new mission computer and CIC ([Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien])
workstations (Advanced Control Indicator Set or ACIS), and carries the U.S. Navy’s new CEC (cooperative engagement capability) [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

It is also fitted with a larger capacity vapor cycle avionics cooling system.

A variant of the Group II with the upgrades to the mission computer and CIC workstations is referred to as the MCU/ACIS.

All Group II aircraft have had their 1960s vintage computer-processors replaced by a mission computer with the same functionality but built using more modern computer technology.

This is referred to as the GrIIM RePr (Group II Mission Computer Replacement Program, pronounced "grim reaper").

Starting in 2007, a hardware and software upgrade package began to be added to existing Hawkeye 2000 aircraft that allows faster processing, double current trackfile capacity, and access to satellite information networks.

Hawkeye 2000 cockpits being upgraded to include solid-state glass displays, modern weather detection systems, and a GPS-approach capability.

E-2D Advanced Hawkeye


Though once considered for replacement by the "[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]", this conception never went into production, and the Hawkeye will continue in its role as the Navy's primary AEW aircraft for years into the future in the E-2D version.

The latest version of the E-2, the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, is currently under development and the first two aircraft, "Delta One" and "Delta Two" are in flight testing.

The E-2D features an entirely new avionics suite, including the new APY-9 radar, radio suite, mission computer, integrated satellite communications capability, flight management system, improved turboprop engines, a new "[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]", and the added capability for [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

The APY-9 radar features an [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], which adds electronic scanning to the mechanical rotation of the radar in its radome.

The E-2D will include provisions for either one of the pilots to act as a Tactical 4th Operator, who will have access to the full range of the mission's acquired data.

The E-2D's first flight occurred on 3 August 2007.

The E-2D will undergo Initial Operational Test and Evaluation in 2011.

On May 8, 2009, an E-2D Advanced Hawkeye used "Cooperative Engagement Capability" to engage an overland cruise missile with a [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] fired from another platform in an integrated [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] test.

Deliveries of initial production E-2Ds to Navy are to begin in 2010.

Design


The E-2 is a high-wing airplane, with one turboprop engine in each wing, and [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

As with all carrier-borne airplanes, the E-2 is equipped with a [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] for landings, and it is capable of using the aircraft carrier's [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] for take-off.

A distinguishing feature of the Hawkeye is its 24-foot (7.3 m) diameter rotating dome that is mounted above its fuselage and wings.

This carries the E-2's primary [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] for its long-range radars.

No other carrier-borne aircraft possesses one of these, and among land-based aircraft, they are mostly seen atop
the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]'s [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], a larger AEW airplane operated by the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] and [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] air forces in large numbers.

The aircraft is operated by a crew of five, with the pilot and co-pilot on the flight deck and the combat information center officer, air control officer and radar operator stations located in the rear fuselage directly beneath the rotodome.

In U.S. service, the E-2 Hawkeye provides all-weather [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] and [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] capabilities for all aircraft-[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

In addition, its other purposes include sea and land [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], the control of the aircraft carrier's fighter planes for [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], the control of strike aircraft on offensive missions, the control of search and rescue missions for [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] and sailors lost at sea, and for the relay of radio communications, air-to-air and ship-to-air.

The E-2C and E-2D Hawkeyes use advanced electronic sensors combined with [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] especially its radars for early warning of enemy aircraft attacks and [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] attacks, and the control of the carrier's [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] (CAP) fighters, and secondarily for surveillance of the surrounding sea and land for enemy [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] and [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] launchers, and any other electronic surveillance missions as directed.

Operational history

US Navy

The E-2A entered U.S. Navy service on January 1964, and in April 1964 with VAW-11 at NAS North Island.

The first deployment was aboard the USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63) during 1965.

Since entering combat during the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], the E-2 has served the US Navy around the world, acting as the electronic "eyes of the fleet". Hawkeyes from the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] VAW-123 aboard the aircraft carrier [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] directed a group of [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] fighters flying the Combat Air Patrol during [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], the joint strike of two Carrier Battle Groups in the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] against [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] terrorist targets during 1986.

More recently, E-2Cs provided the command and control for both [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] and land-attack missions during the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

Hawkeyes have supported the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], and American federal and state [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] during anti-drug operations.