A Northrop Grumman closed a US$353.6 million contract with US Navy to begin production of three E-2D Advanced Hawkeyes for the French Navy. The deal had already been approved by the US State Department in July 2020.
Currently, French Naval Aviation has three E-2C Hawkeye, operated by the 4 Flotille based at Base Aéronavale de Lann Bihoué. These aircraft will be replaced by the new E-2D, whose delivery should be completed in April 2027.
Aéronavale's Hawkeyes operate on the nuclear aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (R91), providing the important early warning and control (AEW&C) capability. The contract also marks the second export victory for the E-2D, which has already been ordered by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. Taiwan and Egypt, which already operate the E-2C, would also be interested in acquiring the E-2D.
The Advanced Hawkeye has as main differences the active electronically scanned array (AESA) AN/APY-9 radar, improved Allison T56-A-427A engines, glass cockpit, in-flight refueling capability and improvements in communication and data link systems.
There is also the possibility for the copilot to work as a 4th Tactical Operator, being able to quickly modify his workstation. The first production E-2Ds were delivered to the US Navy in 2010.
