An E-2C Hawkeye assigned to VAW-113
‘Black Eagles’ about to land on the USS Carl
Vinson (CVN 70). US Navy/Courtney LeavittE-2C Hawkeye/E-2D Advanced Hawkeye
The Northrop Grumman E-2 series
is the oldest design ying from
the US Navy’s aircraft carriers. It
rst entered service as the E-2A
in January 1964 when the initial
example was delivered to carrier
airborne early warning squadron
VAW-11 at NAS North Island,
California. Today the aircraft serves
as the eet’s airborne surveillance
and battle management
command and control platform.
The rst E-2C was delivered in
January 1973 and the aircraft has
been produced in several variants.
Today the eet includes the Group
II and Hawkeye 2000 models.
The Group II E-2C’s Lockheed
Martin AN/APS-145 radar is
capable of detecting and tracking
targets and controlling more
than 20 airborne intercepts. An
improved commercial, o -the-
shelf (COTS)-based mission
computer upgrade (MCU),
a new operator display and
improved satellite data and
voice communications was
incorporated into the Hawkeye
2000 (H2K), which joined the eet
in 2002. The H2K features the co-
operative engagement capability
(CEC), which enables it to work
in conjunction with the Aegiscombat systems installed on Navy
warships to protect the eet.
Upgrades have been made
to the E-2C’s communications,
navigation and identi cation, and
mission avionics and eight-blade
NP2000 propellers have been tted.
Northrop Grumman delivered the
last E-2C on September 30, 2009.
E-2Cs equip ve eet squadrons
and one eet replacement
squadron. As of late 2017 the
inventory included 41 E-2Cs and
a single TE-2C that supports pilot
training. Hawkeyes are also own by
the Naval Air Warfare Development
Center at NAS Fallon, Nevada,
and the Naval Air Warfare Center
Aircraft Division at NAS Patuxent
River, Maryland.
Known as the E-2D Advanced
Hawkeye, the latest version
achieved initial operational
capability (IOC) in October 2014 and
completed its maiden deployment
aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt
(CVN 71) in November 2015. The
E-2D’s Lockheed Martin AN/APY-9
active electronically scanned array
(AESA) radar provides ‘beyond the
strike group’ coverage and is a key
component of the Navy Integrated
Fire Control — Counter Air (NIFC-
CA) concept.The E-2D features a digital
‘glass’ cockpit that allows the
co-pilot to function as a fourth
tactical mission operator when
not actively ying the aircraft. The
E-2C and E-2D are respectively
powered by two Rolls Royce/
Allison T56-A-427 and 427A
turboprop engines. The Hawkeye
is own by a crew of ve that
includes a pilot, co-pilot and three
naval ight o cers who serve as
mission system operators.Flight-testing of an air-to-air
refueling capability for the E-2D
is under way. The capability is
expected to achieve IOC and be
ready to deploy in 2020.
In December 2017, 31 E-2Ds
had been delivered against the
navy’s requirement for 75 aircraft.
Three squadrons have already
transitioned to the new model
and a fourth began conversion in
March 2018. The last E-2Cs will be
retired by 2025.Squadron Location Aircraft Command Tail code
NAWDC ‘Strike’ NAS Fallon, Nevada E-2C CNAF/CNAFP
VAW-113 ‘Black Eagles’ NB Ventura County - Point Mugu, California E-2C CACCLW NE
VAW-115 ‘Liberty Bells’ NB Ventura County - Point Mugu, California E-2C CACCLW NH
VAW-116 ‘Sun Kings’ NB Ventura County - Point Mugu, California E-2C CACCLW NA
VAW-117 ‘Wallbangers’NB Ventura County - Point Mugu, California E-2C CACCLW NG
VAW-120 (FRS)
‘Greyhawks’Chambers Field,
NS Norfolk, Virginia E-2C/D, TE-2C CACCLW AD
VAW-121 ‘Bluetails’ Chambers Field, NS Norfolk, Virginia E-2D CACCLW
VAW-123 ‘Screwtops’ Chambers Field, NS Norfolk, Virginia E-2C CACCLW AC
VAW-124 ‘Bear Aces’
(see note 1)Chambers Field,
NS Norfolk, Virginia (E-2D) CACCLW AJ
VAW-125 ‘Tigertails’ MCAS Iwakuni, Japan E-2D CACCLW NF
VAW-126 ‘Seahawks’ Chambers Field, NS Norfolk, Virginia E-2D CACCLW AB
VX-1 ‘Pioneers’ NAS Patuxent River, Maryland E-2D COTEF JA
VX-20 ‘Force’ NAS Patuxent River, Maryland E-2C/D NAWCAD
1 VAW-124 began transition to the E-2D in March 2018.
2 VAW-112 disbanded on May 31, 2017.71US NAVY & MARINE CORPS AIR POWER YEARBOOK 2018
US NAVY AIR POWER 201866-85 US Navy Review C.indd 71 01/06/2018 10:10