Defense Systems:
The Navy is working with industry to procure next generation software for its latest E-2D Advanced Hawkeye surveillance planes, an aircraft designed to help integrate advanced radar, data communication, and drone control capabilities to detect and intercept cruise missile launches.
Originally procured through a contract with Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. Aerospace Systems in 2014, the Lot 5 E-2D is the updated version of the Cold War Era E-2C Hawkeye aircraft.
Currently, Northrop and the Navy are exploring software support options for the aircraft in anticipation of the transition to full rate production, according to the Department of Defense.
The E-2D is the first aircraft of its type in the missile defense arena able to detect a ground-to-air cruise missile launch, according to Northrop.
The company also reports that image and video surveillance data of the missile launch sites obtained by drones controlled by the E-2D crew can now be fed to and processed by the E-2D computer system, allowing the E-2D to analyze ISR target data and if necessary, coordinate a strike on the launch in real-time to prevent a second launch.
These detection and strike-coordination capabilities are largely due to its use of the latest version of the AN/APY-9 Radar system.
Developed by Lockheed Martin, the AN/APY-9 is an Ultra High Frequency hybrid mechanical/electronically scanned radar system designed to counter stealth mechanisms, as described in a National Defense University publication. The radar uses a longer wavelength between 10 and 100 cm generated by frequencies higher than 300MHz to identify aircraft using stealth measures that would normally render them undetectable…
