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L’avion de guet aérien E-2D Advanced Hawkeye de Northrop Grumman a effectué ses premiers appontages et décollages à partir du porte-avions USS Theodore Roosevelt le 3 décembre dernier. Les appareils ont été mis en œuvre par l’escadrille VAW 125 de l’US Navy, qui entame ainsi une nouvelle étape dans sa phase de transformation sur le nouvel avion. Son commandant a déclaré que l’E-2D offrait une vision « beaucoup plus lointaine et une meilleure capacité de détection de cible à la surface et dans les airs ».

L’E-2D Advanced Hawkeye est une version modifiée de l’E-2C. Il a effectué son premier vol en 2007 et son IOC est prévue pour 2015. Il comprend notamment les améliorations suivantes : système IFF modernisé, radar aux capacités avancées avec balayage mécanique et électronique, nouveaux ordinateurs de mission et consoles tactique. L’US Navy a prévu d’en acquérir 75 exemplaires.

The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, along with the E-2C, provides command and control capability to coordinate multiple missions, including air warfare, strike warfare, surface warfare and search and rescue operations. Acting as a “digital quarterback,” the E-2D scans the environment with its onboard sensors and processes this data with its tactical mission computer. It distributes the tactical picture to command centers and other assets through onboard communication subsystems. The Navy also utilizes this capability to participate in humanitarian and disaster relief operations.   

NORFOLK (March 20, 2014) An E-2D Hawkeye assigned to the Tiger Tails of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 125 flies over Naval Station Norfolk. VAW-125 provides airborne early warning and command and control to Carrier Air Wing 1 and is assigned aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ernest R. Scott/Released)

The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye officially became ready for tasking with Airborne Early Warning Squadron 125 (VAW-125) during a ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk Chambers Field, March 27.
"This is a revolutionary jump in capabilities," said Capt. Todd Watkins, commander, Airborne Command Control and Logistics Wing. "The E-2D serves as the eyes of the fleet. If it's out there, we will see it."

The "Tigertails" of VAW-125 are the first Navy squadron to become fully operational with the Advanced Hawkeye, the newest, most technologically capable variant of the venerable E-2 airborne early warning command and control platform.
The E-2D is expected to be instrumental to how the Navy will conduct battle management command and control. Able to sweep ahead of the strike, the E-2D can manage the mission and keep carrier battle groups out of harm's way.

The E-2D's advanced technology makes it a multi-mission platform through its ability to coordinate concurrent missions which may arise during a single flight. These missions can include airborne strike, ground force support, rescue operations and managing a reliable communications network capable of supporting drug interdiction operations.