Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye

All-Weather Airborne Command and Control (ACC) / Battle Space Management Aircraft [ 1964 ]

Despite its 1960s origins, the Grumman E-2 Hawkeye still provides American carrier battle groups with an advanced eye-in-the-sky monitoring system.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 10/01/2020 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

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The E-2 Hawkeye series serves carrier battle groups (principally in the United States Navy) and is called upon as an all-weather airborne command and control battle space management system. The Hawkeye became operational in 1964, replacing the aging E-1 Tracer series (the principle AEW aircraft in service with the USN and another Grumman design - though based on the S-2 Tracker anti-submarine aircraft). At this time, the future of the E-2 series in service with the USN appears safe as the program is constantly being developed for the new challenges of waging air wars over oceans. The system is also fielded by several other US-friendly nations.

Design-wise, the E-2 series is characterized by the large radome atop the fuselage, the four-bladed propeller systems (now fielded with eight blades) and the four-finned tail assembly. Wings house the twin Allison turboprop engines and are high-mounted to the fuselage. The nose is short, allowing for maximum visibility by both pilots. The fuselage can accommodate a crew of five and consists of two pilots, three naval officers, a radar operator, air control officer and a combat information center officer.

The Hawkeye was initially introduced into service as the W2F-1 but changed shortly after 1962 to the more common E-2 designation. Several conversions were produced from existing units for crew trainer responsibilities as well as developmental models leading up to the C-2 Greyhound. The B-model appeared with inflight refueling capabilities and improvements to the computer system and a redesigned tail assembly. The definitive E-2 model became the E-2C series which contained all of the improvements of the B model with revised electronics, improved radars and better performing engines. The E-2C Hawkeye 2000 were further improved E-2C models. The E-2 was baptized in the Vietnam War and has been apart of every major US conflict since including both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The aircraft was also called upon for humanitarian assistance in Hurricane Katrina, coordinating search and rescue operations.

The E-2 series has been progressively updated with the changing face of war - after all, this system was initially designed in the 1950's and entered service in the next decade. The latest incarnation to the E-2 Hawkeye line is the E-2D model series, flying for the first time in 2007. The E-2 series may also be known by the unofficial names of "Hummer" and "Super Fudd". The former is related to the humming sound produced by the engines whilst the latter stuck to the E-2 as the system replaced the E-1 - that system known as the "Willy Fudd".©MilitaryFactory.com

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August 2016 - It was announced that Japan has ordered a second E-2D Hawkeye platform.

December 2017 - An E-2D "Advanced Hawkeye" completed its first aerial refueling action when it was refueled by an accompanying KC-130 tanker aircraft in testing. The Advanced Hawkeye form is slated to entered USN service sometime in 2020 and, among its many improvements, will be an in-flight refueling capability.

January 2019 - The Japan Ministry of Defense has earmarked funds for five upcoming fiscal years to procure up to nine Northrop Grumman E-2D Hawkeye platforms.

April 2019 - The United States Navy has awarded Northrop Grumman a five-year $3.2 billion contract to buy twenty-four E-2D Hawkeye platforms.

October 2019 - France is set to order four E-2D Hawkeye AEW aircraft for its navy service. The service has operated the E-2C "Hawkeye 2000" version with the 4 Flotile.

March 2020 - Development and testing continues on an upgraded radar for the E-2D.

Specifications

Service Year

1964

Origin

United States

Status

ACTIVE
In Active Service.

Crew

5

Production

75
UNITS

Northrop Grumman / Grumman - USA

(View other Aviaton-Related Manufacturers)

Egypt; France; Israel (retired); Japan; Mexico; Pakistan; Singapore (retired); Taiwan; United States

(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)

SPECIAL-MISSION: AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING
Specially-equipped platform providing over-battlefield Command and Control (C2) capability for allied aerial elements.

SPECIAL-MISSION: ELETRONIC WARFARE
Equipped to actively deny adversaries the ElectroMagnetic (EM) spectrum and protect said spectrum for allied forces.

MARITIME / NAVY
Land-based or shipborne capability for operating over-water in various maritime-related roles while supported by allied naval surface elements.

Length

57.6 ft
(17.56 m)

Width/Span

80.6 ft
(24.58 m)

Height

18.3 ft
(5.58 m)

Empty Wgt

37,677 lb
(17,090 kg)

MTOW

51,568 lb
(23,391 kg)

Wgt Diff

+13,891 lb
(+6,301 kg)

(Showcased structural values pertain to the Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye production variant)

Installed: 2 x Allison T-56-A427 Turboprop engines developing 5,100 horsepower each driving multi-bladed propeller blades.

Max Speed

375 mph
(604 kph | 326 kts)

Ceiling

30,807 ft
(9,390 m | 6 mi)

Range

1,605 mi
(2,583 km | 1,395 nm)

Rate-of-Climb

2,515 ft/min
(767 m/min)

♦ MACH Regime (Sonic)

Sub

Trans

Super

Hyper

HiHyper

ReEntry

♦

(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)

None.

Supported Types

(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)

E-2 "Hawkeye" - Base Series Designation

W2F-1 - Initial Series Designation; E-2A after 1962.

E-2A - New Series Designation after 1962; initial production models based on the W2F-1.

TE-2A - Crew Trainer Variant; converted from E-2A models; two such converted in this fashion.

YC-2A - Converted E-2A models for C-2 Greyhound development; two converted as such.

E-2B - Based on the E-2A (all conversions of); improved computer systems; inflight refueling capable; larger outer tail fins.

YE-2C - E-2C prototypes based on the E-2A series.

E-2C - Based on the E-2A but similar to the E-2B with improvements; improved electronics and radars; upgraded engines found in "plus" designation series.

E-2C "Hawkeye 2000" - Improved and upgraded E-2C models.

E-2D "Advanced Hawkeye" - Improved E-2C (first flight 2007); inflight refueling; new avionics package; redesigned cockpit glass; improved powerplants.

E-2K - The E-2C Hawkeye 2000 series when in the Taiwanese inventory.

E-2T - A variant of the E-2C Hawkeye when in the Taiwanese inventory.

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