This website uses cookies to manage authentication, navigation, and other functions. By using our website, you agree that we can place these types of cookies on your device.

Read More

Northrop Grumman, U.S. Navy Successfully Conduct E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Aerial Refueling CDR

Posted On
a
Naval Defense Industry News - USA
 
 
 
Northrop Grumman, U.S. Navy Successfully Conduct E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Aerial Refueling Critical Design Review
 
Northrop Grumman along with the U.S. Navy have successfully conducted the critical design review (CDR) for the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Aerial Refueling (AR) system. "The AR team continues to put outstanding effort into bringing this much needed capability to the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye," said Capt. John Lemmon, program manager, E-2/C-2 Airborne Tactical Data System Program Office (PMA-231). "Aerial Refueling will enable the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye to provide longer on-station times at greater ranges."
     
Northrop Grumman along with the U.S. Navy have successfully conducted the critical design review (CDR) for the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Aerial Refueling (AR) system. "The AR team continues to put outstanding effort into bringing this much needed capability to the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye," said Capt. John Lemmon, program manager, E-2/C-2 Airborne Tactical Data System Program Office (PMA-231). "Aerial Refueling will enable the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye to provide longer on-station times at greater ranges." An E-2C test aircraft assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 20 conducts an aerial refueling dry-plug engagement with an F/A-18. This capability will extend E-2D Advanced Hawkeye flight endurance.
     
Under a $226.7 million engineering, manufacturing and development (EMD) contract awarded in 2013, Northrop Grumman is designing, developing, manufacturing and testing several sub-system upgrades necessary to accommodate an aerial refueling capability.

Approval of this critical milestone demonstrates design maturity and acknowledgement that the program is ready to transition to the build/test phase. CDR also moves the program closer to installing this capability on new production aircraft. The E-2D aircraft already in service will be retrofitted with the aerial refueling capability.

"Achieving this critical milestone moves the program one step closer to fielding this much needed capability to the Warfighter," said Jane Bishop, vice president, E-2/C-2 programs, Northrop Grumman.

Installation of the developmental Aerial Refueling subsystem and flight test instrumentation onto the E2D test aircraft will commence in the second quarter of FY2016 at Northrop Grumman's St. Augustine manufacturing facility. Flight testing for the AR-equipped E-2D test aircraft is planned for FY2017, with Initial Operational Capability (IOC) expected in FY2020.