The Navy has cleared Northrop Grumman [NOC] to begin full-rate production of the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye battle management command and control aircraft, the company said yesterday.
The green lighting follows a 10-month operational test and evaluation by the Navy. The Navy plans to buy 75 of the aircraft, with 55 remaining to be produced. Northrop Grumman said it has delivered nine E-2Ds to the U.S. Navy with an additional 11 aircraft on the way.
The planes are scheduled to enter initial operational capability in 2015.
“I’m confident we will meet our ultimate goal to provide a capable and ready fleet with E-2Ds as we prepare for the first deployment in 2015,” Capt. John Lemmon, the program manager for the E-2/C-2 Airborne Tactical Data System Program Office, said in a statement provided by Northrop Grumman.
The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye is the latest variant of the E-2 platform. The Navy says it will feature state-of-the-art radar to enhance its capabilities to provide broad area coverage.