UPI:
pril 11 (UPI) — Northrop Grumman has been awarded a five-year $3.2 billion contract to produce 24 E-2D Advanced Hawkeye early warning aircraft for the U.S. Navy.
Work on the carrier-based aircraft, which Northrop Grumman describes as “a game changer in how the Navy will conduct battle management command and control,” is expected to be completed in August 2026, the Defense Department announced Wednesday.
The contract provides full-rate production Lots 7-11 for the E-2D AHE aircraft, which are nicknamed “Super Fudd” because it replaced the E-1 Tracer “Willy Fudd.”
The company said it has completed all major production milestones on time, including delivering 37 E-2D to the U.S. Navy to date under the current program of record. On Aug. 3, 2007, Northrop Grumman completed its successful first flight of the plane.
