Big news in the defense game. Northrop Grumman just snagged a remarkable $1.5 billion contract to build nine E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft plus support services.
Four of these bad boys are for Uncle Sam’s Navy, while the other five will be sent over to Japan to beef up their defenses in the Pacific.
These advanced Hawkeyes are the real deal – airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) in a nutshell. Think of them as giant eagles with high-tech vision, spotting threats from miles away and keeping friendly forces one step ahead.
The contract, posted last Friday, July 19, says that these birds are scheduled to be ready by March 2029, with most of the work happening in Florida.
Uncle Sam’s ‘Digital Quarterback’
The E-2D Hawkeye, known as the “digital quarterback” of the Navy, first soared through the skies in 2007 and officially joined military service in 2010.
Renowned for its advanced radar systems and sensors, this twin-turboprop aircraft extends our Sailors’ battlespace awareness, manages missions effectively, and ensures the safety of battle groups.
Equipped with two Rolls Royce turboprop engines, the E-2D Hawkeye reaches speeds up to 350 knots (400 mph, 650 km/h) – not exactly breaking the sound barrier, but fast enough to get the job done. Range? It can cover a good chunk of ocean, over 1,400 nautical miles (1,682 miles, 2,708 km).
But the real firepower’s inside. Its sophisticated suite includes a fully integrated tactical cockpit, advanced identification friend-or-foe system, electronic support measures, and modern communications and data links.
The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye also incorporates several key advancements that significantly enhance its operational capabilities, including:
True 360-degree radar,
Open architecture compliance and commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS)-based hardware and software,
True FORCEnet enabler, and
Multi-mission flexibility, capable of handling a variety of roles from command and control to missile defense and border security.
Pacific Patrol Gets an Upgrade: US, Japan Team Up on Hawkeyes
In 2023, Uncle Sam gave the green light for Japan to snag five souped-up E-2D Hawkeye planes—fancy radar systems, the whole shebang. The price tag? A whopping $1.4 billion.
But hold on—there’s a twist. Recent news from the Department of Defense says Tokyo is only coughing up about $766 million—half the original sticker price.
No specific reasons were provided for this cost reduction.
This deal not only underscores the continued international collaboration between the US and Japan but also boosts their respective capabilities to monitor and defend their interests in the Pacific region.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) highlighted that these aircraft would significantly aid Japan’s effective homeland defense and regional monitoring efforts. More eyes in the sky mean fewer surprises, that’s for sure.
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