Aircraft Factfile and Recognition Guide - E-2C Hawkeye

Background

The E-2C Hawkeye is the U.S. Navy's all-weather, carrier-based tactical airborne warning and control system platform. It provides all-weather airborne early warning and command and control functions for the carrier battle group. Additional missions include surface surveillance coordination, strike and interceptor control, search and rescue guidance and communications relay.

An integral component of the carrier air wing, the E-2C carries three primary sensors: radar, IFF, and a passive detection system. These sensors are integrated through a general purpose computer that enables the E-2C to provide early warning, threat analyses, and control of counter action against air and surface targets. The E-2C incorporates the latest solid state electronics.

Carrier-based E-2C Hawkeye airborne early warning aircraft directed F-14 Tomcat fighters that provided combat air patrol during the two-carrier battle group joint strike against terrorist-related Libyan targets in 1986, and during the crisis period preceding and following the strike. E-2Cs and AEGIS cruisers, working together, provided total air mass superiority over the American fleet. During this time, American aircraft made 153 intercepts of Libyan air force attempts to overfly the U.S. fleet, intercept the U.S. fighter combat air patrol, or gather intelligence information. Not once did a Libyan aircraft get into firing position before it was locked into the sights of a U.S. aircraft or AEGIS platform missile.

There currently is one squadron of four Hawkeyes in each carrier air wing (CVW).

E-2 aircraft also have worked extremely effectively with U.S. law enforcement agencies in drug interdiction operations. The E-2C replaces the E-2B, an earlier version. E-2C aircraft entered U.S. Navy service with Airborne Early Warning Squadron 123 (VAW-123) at NAS Norfolk, Va., in November 1973. Procurement of E-2Cs by the Navy is planned at six per year for FY 1988-98.

The E-2C+ upgrade includes radar improvements, software upgrades, and more powerful engines. Further plans include upgrading the whole E-2 fleet to Block I and II status, which mean a new radar (APS-139 and APS-145, respectively) and overall improved processing capability.

On 26 April 1999 Northrop Grumman was awarded a $1,305,400,000 multiyear advanced acquisition contract for the procurement of 21 airborne early warning E-2C aircraft in the Hawkeye 2000 configuration for the US Navy, and long lead material for one aircraft for the government of France under the Foreign Military Sales Program. Work will be performed in St. Augustine, Fla. (80%), and Bethpage, N.Y. (20%), and is expected to be completed by July 2006.

Taiwan received four E-2T [for Taiwan] Hawkeyes as of September 1995 as part of a $749.5 million deal with US firm Northrop Grumman. In conjunction with F-16 and Mirage 2000 fighters, the E-2Ts will enhance Taiwan's air defense capability, increasing attack warning times from five minutes to 25 minutes.

Recognizing the E-2 Hawkeye

The Hawkeye is a very easy aircraft to identify, and is one of a few aircraft that share its unique shape.  Here's some pointers for you to identify an E-2 Hawkeye:

Wings: High-mounted and equally tapered with blunt tips.
Engines: Two turboprops mounted under the wings. Engines extend well beyond the wings’ leading edges.
Fuselage: Oval that tapers to the rear. Rounded nose. Stepped-up cockpit. Large radome.
Tail: Four fins (two fins are mounted on the tips of the flats and extend below the flats; the two inside fins are mounted on top of the flats). Flats are high-mounted on the fuselage and have a positive slant.

Specifications: E-2C Hawkeye

Primary Function: Airborne Command & Control, Battle Space Management
Contractor: Northrop Grumman Aerospace Corp.
Unit Cost: $80 million
Propulsion: Two Allison T-56-A427 turboprop engines; (5,100 shaft horsepower each)
Length: 57 feet 6 inches (17.5 meters)
Wingspan: 80 feet 7 inches (28 meters)
Height: 18 feet 3 inches (5.6 meters)
Weight: Max. gross, take-off: 53,000 lbs (23,850 kg) 40,200 lbs basic (18,090 kg)
Speed: 300+ knots (345 miles, 552 km. per hour)
Ceiling: 30,000 feet (9,100 meters)
Crew: Five
Armament: None
Operational: January 1964

Sources: US Navy E-2 Hawkeye factfile, Federation of American Sciences

© 2005-2007 Steven Holzinger