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| E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft. Photo: US Navy |
[Avionics Today 10-17-2014] The Airborne Command Control and Logistics Wing of Naval Air Systems Command announced earlier this week that the latest variant of the E-2 aircraft, the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye has achieved Initial Operational Capability (IOC). IOC signifies that the first operational squadron, Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 125, is manned, trained, equipped and ready to start deployment preparation with E-2D aircraft.
“The E-2D can detect smaller targets, at longer ranges, over water, in littoral areas, and over land in dense clutter environments, giving significant increases in flexibility and situational awareness to the warfighter beyond the capabilities of previous variants of the Hawkeye,” said Capt. John Lemmon, E-2/C-2 airborne tactical data system program office program manager.
The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye is the newest variant of the E-2 aircraft platform. It features a newer radar and upgraded aircraft systems. The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye joins the F/A-18 and EA-18G Growler to comprise the future integrated warfighter carrier flight deck.
The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, along with the E-2C, provides command and control capability to coordinate multiple missions, including air warfare, strike warfare, surface warfare and search and rescue operations. E-2D scans the environment with its onboard sensors and processes this data with its tactical mission computer. It distributes the tactical picture to command centers and other assets through onboard communication subsystems.