Block II Upgrades for E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Clear Critical Design Review
The upgrade adds a new cockpit and open mission systems architecture, with flight testing planned for fiscal year 2029, the Navy said.
- On Monday, the Navy announced that the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Block II upgrade passed its critical design review, officially moving the modernization effort out of the design phase.
- Retrofitting the E-2D fleet with open mission systems architecture "resolves current and future parts obsolescence and enables rapid, non-proprietary technology insertion," allowing updates without complete redesign.
- Cockpit and flight system improvements "will significantly reduce pilot workload and elevate situational awareness," enabling crews to focus on complex battle management tasks.
- Integration and testing is expected to begin immediately, with Northrop Grumman planning to deliver the first modernized E-2D by the end of the decade.
- Flight testing for the upgraded platform will kick off in fiscal year 2029, while the broader E-2D program supports more than 4,000 jobs across 40 US states.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Block II Upgrades for E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Clear Critical Design Review
The Block II’s open architecture for the E-2D’s mission systems, computers and displays enhance cockpit functionality, support future upgrades and improve sensor fusion. The U.S. Navy’s E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft’s Block II upgrades have completed the Critical Design Review (CDR), Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Navy announced on Aug. 18, 2026. The Navy completed the CDF in May, but announced the mile…
Block II upgrades approved for E-2D Advanced Hawkeye
Northrop Grumman successfully completed a Navy critical design review for its E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Block II upgrades in May, marking an important step to support the fleet's sustainment and modernization. The aircraft, mainly focused on command and control, will now be capable of rapid capability insertion, the Navy announced Monday. “This modernization introduces state-of-the-art cockpit architecture, increased computing power, an open mission…
E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Early Warning Aircraft to Get Biggest Upgrade Ever by 2030
As far as military aircraft go, which have this habit of staying on duty for decades, the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye is extremely young, having achieved initial operational capability (IOC) a little more than a decade ago, in 2014. The platform it is based on, however, the E-2 Hawkeye, dates back to the 1960s, and that explains why the aircraft is presently getting ready for the most significant enhancement program it has ever gone through. T... (co…
E-2D Hawkeye upgrade aims to sharpen tracking of 3,000+ targets
The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye is moving toward a major technology upgrade that will improve how crews detect threats, manage information and operate the aircraft. Northrop Grumman has completed a government-led critical design review for the aircraft’s Block II upgrade, clearing the program to begin integration and testing. The company plans to start that work immediately, with upgraded E-2D aircraft scheduled for delivery by the end of the decade. …
Navy approves Block II upgrades for E-2D Advanced Hawkeye fleet
Northrop Grumman successfully completed a critical design review (CDR) for upgrades to the Navy’s fleet of airborne early warning planes, putting the company on track to deliver the modernized aircraft before the end of the decade. The Navy announced Monday that the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Block II program cleared CDR in May, officially moving the effort out of its design phase. With the new upgrades finalized, Northrop now has the green light to …
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