MELBOURNE, Fla., Sept. 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Northrop
Grumman (NYSE: NOC) and U.S. Navy team has successfully conducted
the preliminary design review (PDR) for its E-2D Advanced Hawkeye
Aerial Refueling system.
Completion of this critical milestone allows the program to
proceed to its critical design review, moving closer to
manufacturing the system and installing it on new production E-2Ds
as well as retrofitting it onto E-2Ds that are currently operating
in the Navy fleet.
"I'm very pleased with the progress the team has made," said
Capt. John Lemmon, program manager,
E-2/C-2 Airborne Tactical Data System Program Office (PMA-231).
"Adding an aerial refueling capability to the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye
will extend its critical mission of providing continuous
information to the warfighter who depends on it."
Under a $226.7 million
engineering, manufacturing and development contract awarded in
2013, Northrop Grumman is designing several system upgrades
necessary to accommodate an aerial refueling capability. These
include new seats to enhance pilot field-of-view and decrease crew
fatigue; formation lights for better visualization and air space
orientation; and enhanced software in the aircraft's flight control
system to assist the pilots with aircraft handling qualities when
refueling.
"The greater endurance provided by aerial refueling provides the
warfighter with enhanced surveillance and targeting capability and
the persistence needed to accomplish this more effectively," said
Bart LaGrone, vice president,
E-2/C-2 programs, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems. "This results
in an advanced airborne early warning system that yields greater
surveillance for a longer period of time at a greater distance than
presently available."
As the U.S. continues its shift to Asia-Pacific, the extended range of the E-2D
Advanced Hawkeye can provide the enhanced maritime security
required by the vast geography of the Asia-Pacific region, for both the U.S. and its
allies.
"The level of information provided to the warfighter will
increase exponentially with the extended range and endurance of the
E-2D Advanced Hawkeye fleet with aerial refueling," LaGrone
said.
The Navy's E-2D program of record is for 75 aircraft and there
are currently 62 E-2Cs operating in the Navy's fleet, with an
additional 28 E-2Cs operating in the militaries of Egypt, France, Japan
and Taiwan.
Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing
innovative systems, products and solutions in unmanned systems,
cyber, C4ISR, and logistics and modernization to government and
commercial customers worldwide. Please visit
www.northropgrumman.com for more information.
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SOURCE Northrop Grumman Corporation