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E-2C Hawkeye
The E-2C Hawkeye is the U.S. Navy's all-weather,
carrier-based tactical airborne warning and control system
platform. It 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
carries three primary sensors: radar, IFF, and a passive detection
system. These sensors are integrated through a general purpose
computer that enables the E-2C to provide early warning, threat
analyses, and control of counter action against air and surface
targets. The E-2C incorporates the latest solid state electronics.
Carrier-based E-2C Hawkeye airborne early warning aircraft directed
F-14 Tomcat fighters that provided combat air patrol during the
two-carrier battle group joint strike against terrorist-related
Libyan targets in 1986, and during the crisis period preceeding and
following the strike. E-2Cs and AEGIS cruisers, working together,
provided total air mass superiority over the American fleet. During
this time, American aircraft made 153 intercepts of Libyan air
force attempts to overfly the U.S. fleet, intercept the U.S.
fighter combat air patrol, or gather intelligence information. Not
once did a Libyan aircraft get into firing position before it was
locked into the sights of a U.S. aircraft or AEGIS platform
missile.
There currently is one squadron of four Hawkeyes in each carrier air wing (CVW).
E-2 aircraft also have worked extremely effectively with
U.S. law enforcement agencies in drug interdiction operations.
The E-2C replaces the E-2B, an earlier version. E-2C aircraft
entered U.S. Navy service with Airborne Early Warning Squadron 123
(VAW-123) at NAS Norfolk, Va., in November 1973. Procurement of
E-2Cs by the Navy is planned 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 whole E-2 fleet to Block I and II status, which mean a new radar (APS-139 and APS-145, respectively) and overall improved processing capability.
On 26 April 1999 Northrop Grumman was awarded a $1,305,400,000 multiyear advanced acquisition contract for the procurement of 21 airborne early warning E-2C aircraft in the Hawkeye 2000 configuration for the US Navy, and long lead material for one aircraft for the government of France under the Foreign Military Sales Program. Work will be performed in St. Augustine, Fla. (80%), and Bethpage, N.Y. (20%), and is expected to be completed by July 2006.
| USN E-2C HAWKEYE | 
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| About the E-2C Hawkeye | |
| Manufactuer: | Grumann Aerospace Corp. |
|---|---|
| Airframe: | Based on the C-2 Greyhound, commonly known as the "COD" (Carrier On-board Delivery). |
| Power plant: | Two Allison T-56-A427 turboprop engines. |
| Horsepower: | 5,000 shaft horsepower each engine. |
| Length: | 57 feet 6 inches (17.5 meters). |
| Wingspan: | 80 feet 7 inches (28 meters). |
| Height: | 18 feet 3 inches (5.6 meters). |
| Radar: | AN/APS-138 radar |
| Nicknames: | "Hawkeye" |
| Primary function: | 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. |
| Operational: | First Flight: October 1960. Operational: January 1964 |
| Rotodome: | One interesting feature of the E-2 is its 24-foot revolving radar dish. The dish rotates at six rpm and can be retracted two feet to facilitate stowage aboard a carrier. The lift produced by the radar dish when the plane is in flight is sufficient to offset its own weight. |
| Maximum fuel weight: | (unknown) |
| Maximum takeoff weight: | 53,000 lbs (23,850 kg). |
| Maximum speed: | 300+ knots (345 miles, 552 km. per hour). |
| Aircraft Ceiling: | 30,000 feet (9,100 meters). |
| Operating Altitude: | (unknown) |
| Endurance: | (unknown) |
| Range: | 200 nautical-mile radius with six hours on station ferry range: 1,525 nautical miles |
| Radar range: | The current model operating in the Fleet, the E-2C, is equipped with radar capable of detecting targets anywhere within a three-million-cubic-mile surveillance envelope while simultaneously monitoring maritime traffic. Each E-2C also can maintain all-weather patrols, track, automatically and simultaneously, more than 600 targets, and control more than 40 airborne intercepts. |
| Armament: | None |
| Crew size: | Five: The E-2C flightcrew will normally consist of a pilot, copilot, combat information center officer, aircraft control officer, and radar officer |
