The Diplomat:
The U.S. Department of State today approved the possible sale of nine E-2D Advanced Hawkeye (AHE) Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft to Japan for an estimated cost of $3.135 billion, the Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in a statement.
Northrop Grumman’s twin-turboprop E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft is one of the most advanced carrier-capable tactical airborne early warning aircraft in the world. The latest variant, E2-D, is fitted with a AN/APY-9 radar, an ultra-high frequency hybrid mechanical/electronically scanned radar system with a 360-degree coverage capability.
According to Northrop Grumman, the E-2D is capable of detecting a ground-to-air cruise missile launch and low-observable aircraft. The aircraft was originally designed to help defend aircraft carrier strike groups against any type of long-range aerial threats. Each U.S. Navy carrier strike group deploys four E-2C or E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft.
