U.S. defense contractor Northrop Grumman has been awarded a $1,3 billion U.S. Navy contract modification for the production and delivery for the production and delivery of nine Japan configuration E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Act. This modification definitizes a previously awarded modification for long lead parts associated with the Japan E-2D airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft. Northrop Grumman Corporation completed its first delivery of an E-2D Advanced Hawkeye to the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) on March 29, 2019.
The JASDFE-2C was put into service with the Airborne Early Warning Group (AEWG) at Misawa Air Base in January 1987. Japan Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF) maintains a fleet of 13 E-2C Hawkeyes and four E-767 aircraft as part of its Airborne Early Warning Wing.On 21 November 2014, the Japanese Ministry of Defense officially decided to procure the E-2D version of the Hawkeye, instead of the Boeing 737 AEW&C AEW&C design. In June 2015, the Japanese government requested to buy four E-2Ds through a Foreign Military Sale. Japan ordered four E-2Ds for $1.7 billion in 2015. During October last year, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) approved the purchase of 9 additional E-2D Hawkeye aircraft for $3.1 billion. First of the four ordered planes was delivered to Tokyo this May.
The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft is a twin-turboprop, carrier-capable tactical air tactical airborne early warning aircraft. It is equipped with an AN/APY-9 radar, an ultra-high frequency hybrid mechanical/electronically scanned radar system with a 360-degree coverage capability. The aircraft is capable of detecting a ground-to-air cruise missile launch and stealth aircraft. It can be deployed from an aircraft carrier. The E-2D offers interoperability with next-generation aircraft systems and U.S. Navy allies to support regional security cooperation. To ensure long-term success of the Japan E-2D fleet, Northrop Grumman is providing continued support to JASDF in the areas of sustainment and maintenance, in coordination with several Japanese firms.
