Northrop-Grumman bird has been flying since 1964, debuted in
Vietnam, still going strong
The one millionth
flight hour of the E-2 Hawkeye, the Navy's all-weather,
carrier-based tactical battle management airborne early warning,
command and control aircraft, was celebrated this past weekend in
Norfolk, Va. The milestone was commemorated at the annual East
Coast Hawkeye-Greyhound Ball by the U.S. Navy and the
aircraft’s manufacturer, Northrop Grumman Corporation.
“The Hawkeye will remain the eyes of the fleet and will
provide the foundation upon which warfighting will be transformed
in the coming years,” relates NAVAIR E-2/C-2 Program Manager,
Captain Robert LaBelle. “We look forward to the two millionth
flight hour celebration!”
Introduced in 1964, the E-2 Hawkeye was the first carrier-based
aircraft designed to perform the all-weather airborne early warning
and command and control mission. Since its combat debut during the
Vietnam conflict, the E-2 has served the U.S. Navy around the
world.
The current version of
the Hawkeye, the E-2C, became operational in 1973. In the 1980s
Hawkeyes directed naval aviation forces flying combat air patrol
during strikes against terrorist-related Libyan targets. In the
early 1990s, E-2s provided airborne command and control for
successful Coalition Air Operations during the first Arabian Gulf
War, supported Operations Northern and Southern Watch over Iraq and
NATO operations over the former Republic of Yugoslavia, including
Operation Deny Flight.
Recently in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, E-2
Hawkeyes provided critical Airborne Battle Management and Command
and Control functions supporting numerous Close Air Support and
Battlefield Air Interdiction missions. E-2s also have worked
extremely effectively with U.S. law enforcement agencies in drug
interdiction efforts.
Variants of the E-2C Hawkeye are also flown by the Egyptian Air
Force, Japanese Self Defense Air Force, Royal Singapore Air Force,
Taiwan Air Force, and the French Navy.
The E-2C has undergone several upgrades in recent years. The
newest variant of the E-2C, the Hawkeye 2000, was introduced in
2002. Hawkeye 2000’s new mission computer, improved radar
displays and Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC), combined with
the shipboard Aegis weapon system, will form the cornerstone of
future sea based Theater Ballistic Missile Defense (TBMD).
After four decades and one million flight hours, the
Hawkeye’s future is bright as NAVAIR and industry teams are
currently working on development of the ‘Advanced
Hawkeye’, which is scheduled to be introduced to the Fleet in
2011.
"From its beginnings performing carrier group self defense to
its pivotal role as a Joint Command and Control asset during OIF
and a million hours in between, the E-2C is as relevant today as it
was four decades ago," says Philip A. Teel Northrop Grumman
Integrated Systems sector Vice President. "Current initiatives
align future capabilities to the Navy' Seapower 21 Vision. This
will guarantee future relevancy for the system as the centerpiece
for joint operations as the Navy' battle management and command and
control server in the ForceNet Architecture. Today, as in the past,
we are working closely with our customer on our Joint Technology
Roadmap. These architectural investments will continue to improve
the capabilities of the Hawkeye 2000 and ensure that the Advanced
Hawkeye will meet all of the CNO's requirements for Sea Power
21."