E-2D Advanced Hawk Eye Delivers Decision Dominance Over Air, Land And Sea.

January 2026: E-2D Advanced Hawkeye is a combat proven AEW Command & Control aircraft, enabling comprehensive allied interoperability with 360-degree surveillance, increasing decision time and enhancing force projection. This aircraft, whose roots are deep in the defence of a carrier battle group against long range bombers over water, has evolved into a cutting-edge platform capable of identifying and deterring robust set of threats in any environment, over air, land, littorals, and water for extended durations.

Identified as one of the U.S. Navy’s top five acquisition programs in 2023, Northrop Grumman’s E-2D Advanced Hawkeye continuously outpaces evolving threats through modernisation, delivering readiness for today and persistent capability for the future. Based on a platform that has delivered six decades of airborne command and control, this aircraft is equipped to provide a 360⁰ surveillance picture of all targets in its area of regard over water or land.

The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye is a game changer in how the Navy conducts airborne command and control. Sweeping ahead of strike, managing the mission, and keeping our net-centric carrier strike groups out of harm’s way, the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye is the key to advancing the mission, no matter what it may be. The E-2D gives the warfighter decision dominance through battlespace awareness, air and missile defence, and multiple sensor fusion capabilities in an airborne system.

E-2D is the premier Airborne Command and Control surveillance platform for the protection of nations, including land-locked ones. Currently, Japan, France, Egypt and Taiwan are operating E-2 platforms.

With 70 E-2Ds currently supporting global operations, the Advanced Hawkeye is the largest Airborne Command & Control community in the world. Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Navy have over 40 years of experience in supporting international partners that operate the E-2C and E-2D platforms around the globe.

E-2D’s architecture is built for continuous modernisation to its mission systems that allow it to continuously outpace evolving threats based on real-time operational feedback from the largest Airborne Command and Control community in the world. E-2D is the most experienced, combat proven Airborne Command and Control solution in the world.

• Delivering Capability and Capacity. E-2D is operational in 08 of the 09 deployable U.S. Navy squadrons, with an active production line and an exemplary record of on-time delivery history. E-2D aircraft move directly from the production line to the fleet, ready for deployment across the globe. Advanced Hawkeyes operate globally throughout the United States and Japan. France, Egypt and Taiwan operate E-2C fleets. In 2027, France will transition to E-2D, and the U.S. Navy will transition its last E-2C squadron.

• Open Architecture. Built on open architecture, the Hawkeye boasts technology that reaches well into the future. Block II will improve connectivity for command and control and create a modular, open systems environment for future technology insertion, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning.

• Digital Development. Northrop Grumman is leading the strategic shift to model-based systems engineering and is converting legacy efforts to modern digital environments. E-2D’s next-generation mission computers and displays are being designed to support open mission systems architecture, which will allow for flexible and rapid future incorporation of containerized capabilities.

• AI and ML Transformation. The E-2D’s mission systems are designed to keep pace with future technology evolution like advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning.

• Comprehensive Coverage. Equipped with an AN/APY-9 radar, E-2D delivers a real-time, precise common operating picture to the Joint Force. The APY-9 radar system provides a significant leap in capability for battle management command and control. This advanced radar system is designed to provide comprehensive coverage, leveraging the all-weather UHF band to provide unparalleled wide area surveillance in the most challenging environments. Its cutting-edge technology enables simultaneous air and surface tracking across all radar modes, setting a new standard for situational awareness in military operations over land and at sea.

• Continuous Modernisation. Over the past decade, five major upgrades have been implemented in the E-2D, improving multiple systems, including APY-9 radar and satellite communications, and the addition of aerial refueling capability. Improvements were also made to data fusion along with upgrades to the sensors and counter electronic attack capability. The next iteration of the E-2D will be Block II, which will deliver capability, readiness and reliability upgrades paired with architecture improvements.

• Future Relevance. The Block II variant of the E-2D will provide avionics architecture improvements to flight and mission systems. This will improve the E-2D’s capabilities through human-machine interface enhancements, reducing pilot workload, and improving situational awareness. Block II capabilities will bring readiness and reliability upgrades in addition to architecture and cybersecurity improvements. Block II enhancements will increase crew effectiveness, computing capacity and electronic storage.

• Rapid Evolution. In just two and a half years from development to deployment, an upgrade was tested and fielded in 2023, with the first inline modification to production aircraft delivered to the Navy in December of that year. This upgrade improved the E-2D’s command and control capability, beyond-line-of-sight communications, sensor integration, and incorporated tactical targeting networking technology.

• Capabilities Beyond the Carrier. While primarily designed for airborne command and control, the E-2D can support a variety of missions including defensive and offensive counter-air, integrated air and missile defence, electronic warfare, air traffic control, combat search and rescue, humanitarian relief, border security and counter-drug operations.

• Next Generation Sustainment. Next generation maintenance and sustainment are delivered with applications that enhance diagnostics and reduce costs. Predictive maintenance technology improves

• E-2D readiness. While field service representatives deliver expertise through remote assistance or on the flight line, advanced E-2D analytic tools are employed to generate asset condition insights and recommendations.

Team Maverick.