|
The Hawkeye was developed to replace another Grumman design, the E-1 Tracer (see separate entry), an AEW development of the S-2 Tracker. Grumman was announced the winner of a US Navy requirement to develop a twin turboprop AEW aircraft with a crew of 5, digital processing computers, and a GE APS-96 surveillance radar in March 1957. The resulting W2F (E-2 from 1962) Hawkeye featured the APS-96 in an above fuselage rotodome, two Allison T56 turboprops, a high wing, and a wide span tailplane with considerable dihedral with four fins including two rudders (providing the necessary directional control while conforming to carrier hangar height limitations). Production E-2As (59 aircraft in all) saw widespread service in the Vietnam theatre. From 1969 the E-2As were upgraded to E-2B standard with an improved computer and provision for in-flight refueling. All E-2Bs have been retired from USN service. The definitive Hawkeye is the E-2C, which first flew in January 1970. The main new feature of the E-2C was the APS-125 radar and improved signal processing capability. The C can be identified by its large air intake ahead of the wing and has been continually updated and fitted with increasingly capable radars, in the form of the APS-138, APS-139, and now the APS-145. The APS-145 has greater resistance to jamming, better overground performance and the ability to track up to 2000 targets at one time. Other recent E-2C features include more powerful engines and Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS) software. The TE-2C is a trainer. Two development E-2C Hawkeye 2000s featuring a new mission computer were evaluated by the USN. The E-2C Hawkeye patrols at an altitude of 30,000 ft and can detect and assess targets out to a range of 555 km (300 nm). Over 170 Hawkeyes have been ordered, primarily for the USN, but also for export. Low rate production continues for the USN (procuring new build aircraft was found to be more cost effective than upgrading early E-2Cs) and against fresh export orders. |
