The U.S. Navy awarded Northrop Grumman [NOC] a $286 million contract modification for non-recurring engineering and recurring support to produce and configure the first E-2D Advanced Hawkeye for Japan, the company said Tuesday.
The contract modification calls for Northrop Grumman to configure the Japanese E-2D aircraft using the same E-2D multiyear production line used for U.S. aircraft for a more efficient and affordable delivery schedule, the company said.
The E-2D is an all-weather, airborne early warning (AEW), command and control aircraft. The company highlighted this aircraft is the only global in-production AEW aircraft.
This contract order is aimed at fulfilling the Japan Defense Ministry’s requirements for a future airborne early warning platform. The E-2D was competitively selected by Japan for a next-generation AEW requirement in November 2014.
“The E-2D will provide a critical capability that will serve as a force multiplier for the Japanese government. First responders will be able to receive and act on information more quickly than before with greater airborne early warning capability and a networked communications system,” Jane Bishop, vice president of E-2D Advanced Hawkeye and C-2 Greyhound programs at Northrop Grumman, said in a statement.
The Advanced Hawkeye is set to be produced at Northrop Grumman’s Aircraft Integration Center of Excellence in St. Augustine, Fla.