Northrop Grumman begins production of E-2D Advanced Hawkeye for the French Navy

Northrop Grumman has begun production of the first E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft for the French National Navy at its manufacturing facility in St. Augustine, Florida. This new model will replace the fleet of AEW&C E-2C Hawkeye 2000 aircraft, which have been in operation for over 25 years with the French Naval Aviation (Aeronavale) aboard the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier.

The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft that France will receive incorporate substantial improvements over their predecessors, most notably the in-flight refueling capability. To prepare for this new feature, the Aeronavale is already conducting test flights. In one of these tests, a Rafale M naval fighter, equipped with the NARANG refueling pod, acted as an aerial tanker for an A400M. The choice of the A400M was no coincidence, as its speed profile closely matches that of the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye during in-flight refueling, ensuring a realistic assessment of this new capability.

The safe flight capability at low speeds of the A400M allows to evaluate the Rafale M / NARANG pairing in conditions similar to operational ones. Photo: DGA

The contract for the acquisition of the three E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft was signed in 2020, with delivery of the first unit scheduled for 2027.

Janice Zilch, vice president of multi-domain command and control programs at Northrop Grumman, said:

“Our partnership with France goes back over 25 years. We are proud to have supported the French Navy with the Hawkeye 2000, and we look forward to providing a generational leap in decision dominance with the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye.”

Program details

Northrop Grumman’s E-2C Hawkeye 2000, which entered service with the French Navy in 1998, provides air defense and supports the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier strike group. France is the only country, aside from the United States, to operate E-2C Hawkeyes from an aircraft carrier, enabling interoperability exercises between the French and U.S. fleets.

The French Navy’s aircraft carrier Charles De Gualle normally embarks two E-2C Hawkeye 2000 aircraft, which will be replaced by the more modern E-2D aircraft.

The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye is the latest version of this line of Airborne Early Warning (AEW) aircraft, a legacy that spans more than 60 years. The E-2D is regarded as the world’s premier airborne command and control aircraft, with operational capability over both land and sea. Northrop Grumman has transformed the E-2D into a cutting-edge platform capable of countering threats anywhere in the world.

E-2 variants are operated by air forces and navies worldwide. With an active production line and a 100% on-time delivery record, Northrop Grumman continues to introduce new technologies into the E-2D to stay ahead of evolving threats.