The US Navy's E-2D Advanced Hawkeye carrier-based airborne early-warning aircraft flew for the first time on 3 August from Northrop Grumman's St Augustine, Florida plant.
The E-2D is an upgrade of the E-2C Hawkeye, with a new antenna that combines traditional 360º mechanical rotation with electronic scanning to allow the updated Lockheed Martin APY-9 radar to focus on selected areas of interest.
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© Northrup GrunmanThe US Navy's E-2D Advanced Hawkeye carrier-based airborne early-warning aircraft flew for the first time on 3 August |
The Advanced Hawkeye also has a new glass cockpit that allows one of the two pilots to act as a fourth operator. The second test aircraft will fly later this year, and 75 production aircraft are planned. The E-2D is to enter service in 2011.
Source: Flight International
