Northrop Grumman is offering its E-2D Advanced Hawkeye to meet NATO’s future airborne surveillance needs, having responded to a recent request for information (RFI) from the alliance.
“Northrop Grumman and select members of the ASPAARO [industry] team have responded to NATO’s RFI, with a solution that integrates the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye with enhanced networked capabilities, preserving the NATO vision of multi-domain command and control,” the company says.
“The E-2D will equip NATO and its member countries with technology that has continuously outpaced evolving threats,” says Janice Zilch, Northrop’s vice-president, multi-domain command and control programmes.
Zilch describes the Advanced Hawkeye system as offering “the most comprehensive multi-domain battle management command and control solution at the most competitive operational cost”.
The E-2D is currently operated by the US Navy and Japan Air Self-Defence Force, with the French navy also having ordered the type.
NATO’s requirement will deliver a replacement capability for its Boeing 707-based E-3 airborne warning and control system fleet, which is expected to leave service by 2035.
Other candidates for a future contract are the Boeing 737NG-based E-7A and Saab’s GlobalEye, which uses a Bombardier Global 6000 airframe.
