Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye All-Weather Airborne Command and Control (ACC) (2025)

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INFANTRY SMALL ARMS NAVAL WARFARE

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

United States | 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; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

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".

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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.

Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one aircraft design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye All-Weather Airborne Command and Control (ACC) / Battle Space Management Aircraft.

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

375 mph
604 kph | 326 kts
Max Speed

30,807 ft
9,390 m | 6 miles
Service Ceiling

1,605 miles
2,583 km | 1,395 nm
Operational Range

2,515 ft/min
767 m/min
Rate-of-Climb

City-to-City Ranges
Operational range when compared to distances between major cities (in KM).

NYC

LON

PAR

BER

MOS

TOK

SYD

LAX

NYC

Structure
The nose-to-tail, wingtip-to-wingtip physical qualities of the Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye All-Weather Airborne Command and Control (ACC) / Battle Space Management Aircraft.

5
(MANNED)
Crew

57.6 ft
17.56 m
O/A Length

80.6 ft
(24.58 m)
O/A Width

18.3 ft
(5.58 m)
O/A Height

37,677 lb
(17,090 kg)
Empty Weight

51,568 lb
(23,391 kg)
MTOW

Design Balance
The three qualities reflected below are altitude, speed, and range. The more full the box, the more balanced the design.

RANGE

ALT

SPEED

Variants
Notable series variants as part of the Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye family line.

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.

Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national aircraft listing.

Total Production: 75 Units
Contractor(s): Northrop Grumman / Grumman - USA

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

Relative Max Speed

Hi: 400mph

Lo: 200mph

Aircraft Max Listed Speed (375mph).

Graph Average of 300 MPH.

Era Crossover

Showcasing Aircraft Era Crossover (if any)

Max Alt Visualization

Production Comparison

36183

44000

Entry compared against Ilyushin IL-2 (military) and Cessna 172 (civilian) total production.

MACH Regime (Sonic)

Sub

Trans

Super

Hyper

HiHyper

ReEntry

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Aviation Timeline

EarlyYrs

WWI

Interwar

WWII

ColdWar

Postwar

Modern

Future

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