E-2D Advanced Hawkeye: The Sixth Sense of the XXIst Century U.S. Navy Fleet

The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye is the newest variant of the E-2 aircraft platform. It features a new radar and upgraded aircraft systems. The U.S. Navy is set to receive 75 Advanced Hawkeyes with an IOC expected in October 2014 and first aircraft carrier deployment in 2015. Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) awarded a $3.643 billion multi-year procurement contract to Northrop Grumman on June 30 for 25 E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft.

The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye provides 360-degree automatic, simultaneous air and sea surface radar detection with multimode long-range identification friend or foe (IFF) detection, automatic radar correlation, and long-range passive detection and classification of electronic emitters. It distributes the tactical picture to command centers and other assets through its onboard communication subsystems. The U.S. Navy also uses this capability to participate in humanitarian and disaster-relief operations.

E-2D Advanced Hawkeye: A new aircraft

The E-2D may look like a C model but actually features so many differences that we cannot list them all in detail in this article. All the electronics, from the radar to the aircraft systems and avionics have been upgraded. The cockpit features 3 large (17 inch) display that the pilot and co-pilot can use not only to fly the aircraft but also to receive the same information as in the combat information center (CIC) in the back. Advanced Hawkeye pilots and co-pilots are not "just" flying the aircraft: They may become a 4th operator if the need arises. We were told that the U.S. Navy adapted the training of its Hawkeye pilots in consequence.

Speaking of the CIC, it features three workstations (with 20 inch display, featuring open architecture and computing environment) for one ACO (Air Control Officer), a CICO (Combat Information Center Officer) and a RO (Radar Officer).

Compared to legacy "C" model Hawkeyes, the "D" model features a new environmental control system (with better cooling capacity), a new digital ESM, a new electrical system (with vast margin for future growth), new mission data processing (based on COTS components, high-speed processors and a fiber-optic LAN), upgraded communications...

The whole structure of the aircraft has been beefed up allowing for higher aircraft carrier landing weight and future growth.

The U.S. Navy is transitioning 1 squadron a year to the E-2D with each squadron replacing 4 Hawkeyes with 5 Advanced Hawkeyes. Each squadron will retain the same number of maintainers however, which illustrates its ease of maintenance.

Maximized endurance thanks to future in-flight refueling capability

In January this year, the U.S. Navy awarded Northrop Grumman a contract for engineering, manufacturing and demonstration of an in-flight refueling (IFR) system for the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft. The greater endurance provided by in-flight refueling will provide the U.S. Navy with increased surveillance and targeting capability and the persistence needed to accomplish this more effectively. It will also allow the aircraft to loiter for longer period of time, further out. The planned IOC for the IFR capability is 2019.

To increase crew effectiveness during the longer missions (up to 8 hours thanks to IFR), Northrop Grumman offers "optional air vehicle enhancements" consisting in:
» Food and beverage galley
» Crew lavatory
» Ergonomic seats
» Noise canceling aviation headsets
» Air conditioning

AN/APY-9: A next generation radar which excels at detecting cruise missiles

According to Northrop Grumman, current mechanically scanned and pure electronically scanned radars have inherent shortcomings that limit their effectiveness and compromise their capabilities. The Advanced Hawkeye’s completely new APY-9 radar merges a traditional mechanically scanned antenna with steerable electronic scanning: Operators get the best of both world (or more accurately, the best of both technologies). Mechanically rotated electronic scan radar provides uniform 360 detection coverage, independent of ownship aircraft orientation to the target. No compromises as seen when integrated fixed radars on commercial aircraft.

The improvements of the APY-9 compared to the E-2C radar (AN-APS-145) are many:
» Increased range
» Enhanced detectability of air targets both over sea and land
» Surface target tracking out of horizon
» Reduction of clutter in coastal area and over land
» Precision tracking of maneuvering targets against ground clutter
» Long range detection of cruise missiles

Northrop Grumman representatives stressed this last point to us: A great deal of energy was focused on detecting cruise missiles, both over sea and land. This was a requirement of the U.S. Navy

AN/APY-9: Different modes for different types of targets

The new Advanced Hawkeye radar offers three modes to the operators, depending on the situation.

AAS Mode: Advanced AEW Surveillance. The Advanced Hawkeye’s state-of-the-art ultra high frequency radar provides uniform 360-degree, simultaneous air and surface coverage with longrange detection of low radar cross-section targets.

ESS Mode: Enhanced Sector Scan. Merges a traditional mechanically scanned antenna with steerable electronic scanning technology to bring the benefits of both technologies, while eliminating the shortcomings of either technology on its own.

ETS Mode: Enhanced Tracking Sector. Pure electronic scanning, geographically stabilized or following a target, provides enhanced detection and tracking in a selected sector. No lost tracks in turns.

E-2D Advanced Hawkeye: Truly multi-mission

The E-2D advanced detection and information processing capabilities enable multi-mission situation awareness. The Advanced Hawkeye’s radar and identification friend or foe system can detect targets at ranges in excess of 300 nmi. Its electronic support measure system detects and classifies targets at distances beyond radar limits. The onboard communications and data processing subsystems are capable of collecting and distributing the tactical picture to command centers and other assets for network-centric operations.

Core missions include:
Airborne Early Warning and Maritime missions (AEW, Battle Management Command and Control, Strike & Intercept Control, Detection & Tracking of Surface Targets).

Secondary mission: Theater Air Missile Defense
With improved detection and tracking capability, the Advanced Hawkeye can fulfill an ever-expanding role in littoral and overland operations. Utilizing its open architecture network connectivity, it will be a key network enabler and provide the ability to coordinate time-critical targeting and strike operations.

Civil missions:
The same capabilities that allow the Hawkeye to support military operations allow it to assist civil authorities with surveillance, command, communications and control when they are needed. (ATC, SAR, counter piracy, counternarcotics operations...)

Q & A with the U.S. Navy E-2/C-2 Airborne Tactical Data System Program Office (PMA-231)

Navy Recognition (NR): How may the Advanced Hawkeye counter the potential threat of anti-radiation homing missiles (that are passive and long range) currently under development in China and Russia?
U.S. Navy (USN): The U.S. Navy continually matures the operational tactics of the E-2 Hawkeye to maximize mission effectiveness. With the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye-the newest variant of the E-2 platform-on track for Initial Operational Capability in fiscal year 2015, the fleet is actively engaged in updating tactics, training and procedures for the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye to counter emerging threats.

NR: How does APY-9 compares to APS-145?
USN : The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye's APY-9 radar provides greatly increased capability to detect and track targets earlier and more accurately in littoral, overland and overwater environments than the E-2C aircraft's APS-145, protecting the carrier strike group from threat aircraft and cruise missiles. Additionally, the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye's APY-9 radar also employs a mechanically scanned antenna with steerable electronic scanning capability, providing 360-degree surveillance coverage with long-range detection.

NR: Will E-2D be available for export, if yes when?
USN: The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye is currently available for export via the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program.

NR: Any differences in performance between E-2C and E-2D? (speed, range, endurance)
USN: The basic aircraft vehicle performance, such as its speed and endurance, between the E-2C and E-2D is comparable. However, the Navy is currently developing an aerial refueling capability for the E-2D that will increase its mission endurance.

NR: Is the E-2D fitted with counter measures, defensive jamming / Chaff / Flares dispensers and/or DIRCM?
USN: Not currently.