Northrop Grumman's second E-2D Advanced Hawkeye development aircraft, known as Delta Two, has joined the flight test programme. The aircraft completed a first flight of just over two hours from the company's St Augustine, Florida facility in late November followed by a second flight on 4 December.
The E-2D is an enhanced version of the US Navy's Hawkeye carrier-based airborne early warning aircraft, with an updated mission system including new Lockheed Martin radar with both mechanically and electronically scanned antenna. The US Navy plans to procure at least 75 E-2Ds.
Northrop began flying the first development aircraft, Delta One, in August 2007. The company plans to complete one more flight with Delta Two, to check engine air start capability and high angle-of-attack flying qualities, before completing installaion of the mission system. This will be followed by some 200 test flights to evaluate the new radar.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
