Northrop Grumman Wins Contract for French Navy E-2D Aircraft

Northrop Grumman won a $354 million U.S. Navy contract to start production on three E-2D Advanced Hawkeye airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft for the French Navy (Marine Nationale).

The U.S. Department of Defense contract announcement issued on 22 December 2021 reads :
Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Military Aircraft Systems, Melbourne, Florida, is awarded a $ 353,584,118 fixed-price incentive ( firm target ) alteration ( P00034 ) to a previously awarded condense ( N0001918C1037 ). This alteration provides for the production and rescue of three E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft for the government of France. Work will be performed in St. Augustine, Florida ( 27.52 % ) ; Syracuse, New York ( 19.07 % ) ; Melbourne, Florida ( 6.66 % ) ; Indianapolis, Indiana ( 5.32 % ) ; Menlo Park, California ( 4.31 % ) ; El Segundo, California ( 4.21 % ) ; Rolling Meadows, Illinois ( 2.22 % ) ; Aire-sure-l ’ Adour, France ( 2.16 % ) ; Owego, New York ( 1.62 % ) ; Edgewood, New York ( 1.42 % ) ; Marlboro, Massachusetts ( 1.35 % ) ; Woodland Hills, California ( 1.29 % ) ; Greenlawn, New York ( 1.24 % ) ; Windsor Locks, Connecticut ( 1.15 % ) ; versatile locations within the continental U.S. ( 20.06 % ) ; and diverse locations outside the continental U.S. ( 0.42 % ), and is expected to be completed April 2027. Foreign military Sales funds in the measure of $ 353,584,118 will be obligated at clock time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contract activity.

For the record, the french Ministry of Armed Forces announced one year ago that it had approved the acquisition of three E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Airborne early on warn and control ( AEW & C ) aircraft .

Led by the french Defense Procurement Agency ( DGA ), this procurement is being carried out under a Foreign military Sales ( FMS ) agreement with the U.S. politics. The United States ’ State Department approved this FMS in July 2020.

An E-2C Hawkeye on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle ready for catapulting. ©Yoann Letourneau/Marine Nationale/Défense

The french E-2D Advanced Hawkeyes are set to enter production at the Northrop Grumman plant in St Augustine, Florida, in 2024. Based on a brief by the broadcast officeholder, Captain Arrobio, during Sea Air Space 2021, the three aircraft could be the final E-2Ds to ever come out of the product line ( should there be no follow-on holy order from the U.S. Navy or FMS customers ). They will be delivered by the U.S. Navy in 2028. The Aircraft will then be flown from the United States to France for delivery. They will replace the existing E-2C Hawkeye of the french Navy. According to the french Armed Forces statement, the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye designed by Northrop-Grumman, represents a generational jump forward compared to the E-2C Hawkeye. Its active electronically scanned array ( AESA ), cockpit and data links are notably improved .

As we reported previously, the french aircraft will feature in-flight refueling capability. The three E-2D aircraft ordered for the french Navy will be adapted to french requirements by integrating a particular computer, developed by the french Aerospace Industry Service ( SIAé ), which will guarantee the system ’ south autonomous upgrade capability .

About E-2D Advanced Hawkeye

An E-2D Advanced Hawkeye with VAW-126 is refueled in the air. US Navy Photo

Built by Northrop Grumman, the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye is the latest version of the E-2 Airborne early warning aircraft, replacing the E-2C Hawkeye. It brings revolutionary capabilities to the carrier strike group, including the new and mighty AN/APY-9 radar, which is a two-generational jump in engineering .

The APY-9 radar is an extremist High Frequency ( UHF ) surveillance system that provides both mechanical and electronic scan capabilities designed to “ see ” smaller targets – and more of them – at a greater roll, particularly in coastal regions and over land .

ARABIAN SEA (July 18, 2019) An E-2D Hawkeye assigned to the “Bluetails” of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 121 makes an arrested landing on flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Dan Snow/Released)

The U.S. Navy has awarded a multi-year procurement contract to Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. for the buy of 24 E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft in full rate production for fiscal years 2019-2023. This is the second MYP contract awarded to NGSC. The Navy awarded the first in 2014 for the production of 25 E-2D aircraft. The U.S. sexual intercourse late increased the phone number to 26 aircraft bringing the total number of E-2Ds on decree for the U.S. Navy to 50 aircraft .

On the export side, Japan has 13 E-2D on decree while France is procuring three raw Advanced Hawkeyes to replace the in service E-2C Hawkeyes .