NATIONAL HARBOR, Md.–The Navy is close entering into a multi-year production contract with Northrop Grumman
[NOC] for the production of 25 E-2D Advanced Hawkeye command and control and early wanting aircraft.
The Navy went into full-rate production for five of the aircraft last year. The multi-year will take place over five years. Capt. John Lemmon, the program manager for the Hawkeye program at Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), said the contract should be awarded in the next “couple months.”
The aircraft carrier based Hawkeyes have been in service for decades. The latest version incorporates new cockpit avionics, and advanced communications, radar and battle management systems.
The Navy plans to buy a total of 75 E2-Ds. Twenty were purchased under low-rate initial production.