Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Melbourne, Florida, is awarded a $12,970,550 modification to a cost-plus-fixed-fee order against a previously issued basic ordering agreement. This modification exercises an option to provide continued support for integrated test team operations in executing advanced development experimentation flights and development testing in support of future delta system software builds for the U.S. Navy E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Maryland, and is expected to be completed in July 2022.
Under the current program of record Northrop Grumman has delivered 37 E-2D to the U.S. Navy to date, completing all major production milestones on time. In addition to the production and sustainment of the E-2D, Northrop Grumman will deliver a series of capability upgrades. The third upgrade is slated for release in fall 2019 and includes an aerial refueling capability to significantly extend the aircraft’s endurance. Northrop Grumman Corporation has been awarded 3.2 billion contract to deliver an additional 24 E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft to the U.S. Navy.
The E-2D is the U.S. Navy’s airborne early warning and command and control aircraft system. The carrier-based aircraft provides expanded battlespace awareness for carrier strike groups. Its two-generation leap in radar technology allows the E-2D to work with ship-, air- and land-based combat systems to track and defeat air, ship and cruise missiles at extended range. The aircraft can also be used in a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief capacity for civilian emergency coordination.
There are now 28 E-2D aircraft that are able to leave the flight deck and provide forward American military presence in the form of All-Weather Airborne Early Warning, Command & Control, and Battlespace Management functions. In addition, training, flight certification and war fighter benefits were achieved. The most visible front-line actors were the maintainers and material suppliers, but integration efforts across the Naval Aviation Enterprise (NAE) were required to affect change on every aircraft.
