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 begin retrofitting the aircraft with new capabilities in preparation for flight tests slated for fiscal 2029, according to the sea service.

Block II represents the largest modernization effort for the E-2D, which first flew in 2007. The upgrades are focused on improving the aircraft’s operational capabilities and introducing an open-systems architecture that will allow the Navy to continuously update its fleet to meet new threats.

“This modernization introduces state-of-the-art cockpit architecture, increased computing power, an open mission systems framework and robust cybersecurity,” the service said in a news release. “Together, these capabilities ensure the E-2D remains the premier node for airborne command and control, providing the resilient, lethal edge required to secure maritime dominance.”

The E-2D is the Navy’s primary tactical airborne early warning and command-and-control aircraft. The carrier-capable platform is equipped with the AN/APY-9 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, acting as the service’s eyes in the sky to detect incoming aerial threats — including cruise missiles and enemy aircraft.

Retrofitting the E-2D fleet with an open mission systems architecture “resolves current and future parts obsolescence and enables rapid, non-proprietary technology insertion,” the Navy said in a statement. In a separate news release, Northrop Grumman noted that leveraging modular systems and commercial off-the-shelf products will lower the costs of sustaining the fleet for the long term.

The upgraded cockpit and flight systems are also expected to reduce cognitive load on the aircraft’s pilots so they can perform more complex battlespace management missions.

Moving forward, Northrop plans to add the Block II upgrades into the Navy’s active E-2D production line and integrate them on both new and existing aircraft. Integration and testing is expected to begin “immediately,” with the first Block II aircraft slated for delivery by the end of the decade, the company said.

“This upgrade strengthens the E-2D’s suite of capabilities, enhancing situational awareness, reducing crew workload and paving the way for future technology. We are continuing to deliver unmatched capability at speed to the U.S. Navy and our international partners,” Janice Zilch, Northrop Grumman’s vice president and program manager of the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, said in a statement.