The Navy awarded Northrop Grumman [NOC] a $3.6-billion contract modification on Monday for the multi-year production of 25 E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft.
The work covers production for the command and control and early warning aircraft through 2021. Last year the Navy went into full-rate production for five of the Advanced Hawkeyes.
“The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye is the Navy’s primary airborne early warning and battle management command and control platform,” Capt. John S. Lemmon, program manager for the airplanes, said in a statement issued by Northrop Grumman. “I’m confident that as the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye attains initial operational capability later this year, the E-2D will continue to be ready, relevant and capable for decades to come and continue serving the Navy carrier strike group with distinction.”
The Navy plans to buy a total of 75 E-2Ds. Twenty were purchased under low-rate production.
Earlier versions of the aircraft carrier-based Hawkeyes have been in service for decades. The latest version incorporates new cockpit avionics, and advanced communications, radar and battle management systems.