Northrop Grumman wins $3.6 billion contract for E-2D Advanced Hawkeye surveillance aircraft

The U.S. Navy has awarded Northrop Grumman Corp. a $3.6 billion fixed price, incentive fee multi-year contract to deliver 25 new E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft, bringing the total number of aircraft on contract to 50.

Developed and produced by Northrop Grumman, the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye is the world’s only aircraft specifically designed as a carrier-based airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) system. With its structurally distinctive design — a rotating rotodome and four vertical stabilizer tail configuration — the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye provides unprecedented, 360-degree surveillance to the warfighter.

“The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye is the Navy’s primary airborne early warning and battle management command and control platform,” said Navy Capt. John Lemmon, program manager, E-2/C-2 Airborne Tactical Data System Program Office (PMA-231). “I’m confident that as the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye attains initial operational capability later this year, the E-2D will continue to be ready, relevant and capable for decades to come and continue serving the Navy Carrier Strike Group with distinction.”

As the only DoD designed, tested and in-production AEW&C platform, the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye has undergone a significant transformation from previous E-2 models, resulting in revolutionary capabilities, says Northrop Grumman. This includes the new, more powerful AN/APY-9 radar system, exclusive to the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, which represents a two-generational leap in radar technology and allows the warfighter to “see” a greater number of targets at much greater distances — as well as new avionics and a glass cockpit.

“A multi-year procurement of these additional E-2Ds will take advantage of efficient, stable production lines at both Northrop Grumman and our suppliers, and will generate significant cost savings for taxpayers and the Navy,” said Bart LaGrone, vice president, E-2/C-2 programs, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems. “It’s a win-win — our warfighters will get the advanced AEW&C technology that the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye brings, at a lower cost for taxpayers.”

The Northrop Grumman-led supplier team — “Team Hawkeye” — brings together the best in industry, ensuring the continued success of the Advanced Hawkeye program. Lockheed Martin Naval Electronics and Surveillance Systems, Syracuse, NY, serves as the principal AN/APY-9 radar system supplier and is teamed with Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems, Baltimore, and Raytheon’s Space and Airborne Systems, El Segundo, CA. Rolls-Royce (Indianapolis, IN) provides the T-56-A engines while BAE Systems, Greenlawn, NY, is responsible for the identification friend or foe system and L-3 Communications Randtron Antenna Systems, Menlo Park, CA, developed the ultra-high frequency electronically scanned array antenna.

“Since the first E-2D Advanced Hawkeye delivery in 2007, every aircraft has been delivered on schedule and on budget,” LaGrone said. “It is this kind of proven program performance and partnership with our customer that results in a multi-year contract — validating that the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye is the right system at the right time for the right cost.”

The Navy’s E-2D Advanced Hawkeye program of record is for 75 aircraft, of which Northrop Grumman has already delivered 13 production aircraft.