The E-2C Hawkeye is the U.S. Navy's all-weather, carrier-basedtactical airborne warning and control system platform. It providesall-weather airborne early warning and command and control functionsfor the carrier battle group. Additional missions include surfacesurveillance coordination, strike and interceptor control, search andrescue guidance and communications relay.
An integral component of the carrier air wing, the E-2C carriesthree primary sensors: radar, IFF, and a passive detectionsystem. These sensors are integrated through a general purposecomputer that enables the E-2C to provide early warning, threatanalyses, and control of counter action against air and surfacetargets. The E-2C incorporates the latest solid state electronics.
Carrier-based E-2C Hawkeye airborne early warning aircraft directedF-14 Tomcat fighters that provided combat air patrol during thetwo-carrier battle group joint strike against terrorist-related Libyantargets in 1986, and during the crisis period preceeding and followingthe strike. E-2Cs and AEGIS cruisers, working together, provided totalair mass superiority over the American fleet. During this time,American aircraft made 153 intercepts of Libyan air force attempts tooverfly the U.S. fleet, intercept the U.S. fighter combat air patrol,or gather intelligence information. Not once did a Libyan aircraft getinto firing position before it was locked into the sights of aU.S. aircraft or AEGIS platform missile.
E-2 aircraft also have worked extremely effectively with U.S. lawenforcement agencies in drug interdiction operations. The E-2Creplaces the E-2B, an earlier version. E-2C aircraft entered U.S. Navyservice with Airborne Early Warning Squadron 123 (VAW-123) at NASNorfolk, Va., in November 1973. Procurement of E-2Cs by the Navy isplanned at six per year for FY 1988-98.
The E-2C+ upgrade includes radar improvements, software upgrades,and more powerful engines. Further plans include upgrading the wholeE-2 fleet to Block I and II status, which mean a new radar (APS-139and APS-145, respectively) and overall improved processingcapability.
On 26 April 1999 Northrop Grumman was awarded a $1,305,400,000multiyear advanced acquisition contract for the procurement of 21airborne early warning E-2C aircraft in the Hawkeye 2000 configurationfor the US Navy, and long lead material for one aircraft for thegovernment of France under the Foreign Military Sales Program. Workwill be performed in St. Augustine, Fla. (80%), and Bethpage,N.Y. (20%), and is expected to be completed by July 2006.
Taiwan received four E-2T [for Taiwan] Hawkeyes as of September1995 as part of a $749.5 million deal with US firm NorthropGrumman. In conjunction with F-16 and Mirage 2000 fighters, the E-2Tswill enhance Taiwan's air defence capability, increasing attackwarning times from five minutes to 25 minutes.
Contractor:
Northrop Grumman (Prime), Westinghouse
Type:
Early warning and control aircraft
Power Plant:
E-2C: Two Allison T56-A-425 turboprops; each has approximately 4,600 horsepower
E-2C+: Two Allison T56-A-427 engines; each has approximately 5,100 horsepower; since 1988
Accommodations:
Crew of fivetwo pilots and three operators.
Performance:
E-2C: maximum speed 350 knots; range 1,300 nautical miles
E-2C+: maximum speed 350 knots; range 1,500 nautical miles
Countermeasures:
Not applicable
Armament:
E-2C: Lockheed Martin Ocean,Radar, and Surveillance Systems [ex General Electric Corporation] AN/APS-138 radar since 1984;
AN/APS-139 since 1988
E-2C+: Lockheed Martin Ocean,Radar, and Surveillance Systems [ex General Electric Corporation] AN/APS-145 radar since 1991
All: AN/ALR-73 Passive Detection System, IFF
Mission and Capabilities:
- High-wing, all-weather, carrier-based airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft that patrols task force defense perimeters
- Provides early warning of approaching enemy aircraft and vectors interceptors into attack position
- In addition to its primary AEW function, can also provide strike and traffic control, area surveillance, search and rescue guidance, navigational assistance, communications relay, and drug interdiction.
- Group II upgrade to E-2C+ is the biggest advance in AEW technology in two decades.
- AN/APS-145 radar provides fully automatic overland detection and tracking and significantly extends the radar detection limits. The radar capable of detecting targets anywhere within a three-million-cubic-mile surveillance envelope while simultaneously monitoring maritime traffic.
- An Enhanced High-Speed Processor, which expands the active track file by 400% over previous versions, is incorporated into the mission computer. Each E-2C can maintain all-weather patrols, track, automatically and simultaneously, more than 600 targets, and control more than 40 airborne intercepts.
- Enhanced Main Display Units provide operators with improved visual representation.
- Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS) incorporates several anti-jam features to allow uninterrupted voice and data communications, thereby enhancing interoperability.
Program Summary:
- In service with Naval Air Forces Atlantic and Naval Air Forces Pacific, as well as the armed forces of Israel, Japan, Egypt, Singapore, and Taiwan
- Will be delivered to France in 1997
- Discussions with several other potential customers are ongoing.
- The Hawkeye entered service in 1961 as the E-2A and was updated in 1969 to the E-2B.
- E-2C was introduced in 1973.
- In 1978, the AN/APS-125 Advanced Radar Processing System was introduced and was succeeded in 1984 by the AN/APS-138 (now referred to as Group 0).
- Retirement has begun; only 53 of these aircraft remain in the inventory.
- In 1988, Group I version was introduced; this featured an upgraded T56-A-427 engine, which eliminated operating restrictions imposed by growth in the aircrafts gross weight due to incorporation of new systems.
- Radar was updated to the AN/APS-139 with a High-Speed Processor that doubled the track files maintained by the system.
- Eighteen Group I aircraft were built and are being upgraded to Group II configuration.
- The AN/APS-145 radar alleviates saturation, track overload, and overland tracking clutter.
- Group II increases radar and IFF range, radar volume, target track capability, number of targets displayed, and target recognition capability through the use of color displays.
- Group I and Group II aircraft are also referred to as E-2C+.
E-2 TECHNICAL DATA:
External Dimensions
| Wing span | 24.56 m |
| Wing chord: (at root) | 3.96 m |
| Wing chord (at tip) | 1.32 m |
| Wing aspect ratio | 8.94 m |
| Length overall | 17.54 m |
| Height overall | 5.58 m |
| Diameter of rotodome | 7.32 m |
| Tailplane span | 7.99 m |
| Wheel track | 5.93 m |
| Wheel base | 7.06 m |
| Propeller diameter | 4.11 m |
Areas
| Wings, gross | 65.03 m2 |
| Ailerons (totals) | 5.76 m2 |
| Trailing-edge flaps (total) | 11.03 m2 |
| Fins, include rudders and tabs: | |
| 10.25 m2 |
| 4.76 m2 |
| Tailplane | 11.62 m2 |
| Elevators (total) | 3.72 m2 |
Weights and Loadings
| Weight empty | 17,859 kg |
| Maximum fuel (internal, usable) | 5,624 kg |
| Maximum T-O weight | 5,624 kg |
| Maximum power loading | 3.18 kg/kW |
Performance (at maximum Takeoff Weight)
| Maximum level speed | 338 knots |
| Cruising speed (ferry) | 259 knots |
| Approach speed | 103 knots |
| Stalling speed (landing configuration) | 75 knots |
| Service ceiling | 11,275 m |
| Minimum T-O run | 564 m |
| T-O to 15 m | 793 m |
| Minimum landing run | 439 m |
| Combat Radius | 1,500 Km |
| Ferry range | 1,542 nm |
| Time on station, 175 nautical miles from base | 4 hr. 24 min |
| Endurance with maximum fuel | 6 hr. 15 min |
