E-2 Hawkeye

The Grumman E-2 Hawkeye is the United States Navy's all-weather, aircraft carrier-based tactical warning and control system aircraft.

Related Topics:
Grumman - United States Navy - Aircraft carrier - Aircraft

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The Hawkeye provides all-weather airborne early warning and command and control functions for the carrier battle group. Additional missions include surface surveillance coordination, strike and interceptor control, search and rescue guidance and communications relay. An integral component of the carrier air wing, the E-2C uses computerized sensors to provide early warning, threat analyses and control of counteraction against air and surface targets. It is a high-wing aircraft with stacked antennae elements contained in a 24 foot (7.3 m) rotating dome above the fuselage. The peculiar airflow over and around the radar dome led to a multiple-surface tail unit.

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The continuous improvements in early airborne radars by 1956 led to the concept of an airborne early warning and command and control aircraft. The first aircraft to perform this mission was the Grumman E-1 Tracer (a variant of the S-2 Tracker anti-submarine aircraft), which saw service from 1954 to 1964. The E-1's successor, the E-2 Hawkeye, was the first carrier-based aircraft designed from the outset for the all-weather airborne early warning and command and control function. Since replacing the E-1 in 1964, the Hawkeye has been the "eyes of the fleet." Since its combat debut during the Vietnam conflict, the E-2 has served the US Navy around the world. Hawkeyes directed F-14 Tomcat fighters flying combat air patrol during the two-carrier battle group joint strike against terrorist-related Libyan targets in 1986. E-2Cs and cruisers equipped with the Aegis combat system, working together, provided total air mass superiority over the American fleet. More recently, E-2Cs provided the command and control for successful operations during the Persian Gulf War, directing both land attack and combat air patrol missions over Iraq and providing control for the shoot-down of two Iraqi MiG-21 aircraft by carrier-based F/A-18s in the early days of the war. E-2 aircraft also have worked extremely effectively with U.S. law enforcement agencies in drug interdictions. The newest version of the Hawkeye, the E-2C, became operational in 1973.

Related Topics:
1956 - E-1 Tracer - S-2 Tracker - 1954 - 1964 - Vietnam - F-14 Tomcat - Libya - 1986 - Aegis combat system - Persian Gulf War - Iraq - MiG-21 - F/A-18 - 1973

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The latest variant, the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, is currently under development. It will feature an entirely new avionics suite, including a new radar, radio suite, mission computer, and flight managment system. The E-2D will include provisions for either pilot to act as a Tactical 4th Operator, and have access to the full range of mission functions available to the CIC crew. First flight is expected in 2007, with IOC in 2011.

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The Hawkeye is also active with the French Navy's Aéronavale, Taiwan, Mexico, the Israeli Air Force, the Republic of Singapore Air Force, the Japanese Self Defense Air Force, and the Egyptian Air Force. It is also being considered to replace the Sea King ASaC.7 for the Royal Navy's CVF project, although it's CTOL configuration puts it at a disadvantage compared with the Merlin and Osprey.

Related Topics:
French Navy - Taiwan - Mexico - Israeli Air Force - Singapore - Egyptian Air Force - Sea King ASaC.7 - Royal Navy - CVF - Merlin - Osprey

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