The newest AWACS aircraft in the world – Northrop Grumman’s E-2D -- made its first three test flights last week. Delta One flew from Northrop Grumman’s facility at St. Augustine, Fla. at 11 am on Aug. 3 -- a 1.3 hr. hop within sight of the field, says Capt. Randy Mahr, the Navy’s program manager for Hawkeye, Advanced Hawkeye and C-2 aircraft.



Other new Navy aircraft that made their first flights this year were the EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft, the stealthy F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and the block two E/A-18F strike fighter with advanced, active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar. AESA will also be on the F-35, allowing them to find small and stealthy flying targets.

“The Advanced Hawkeye will electronically bind this future force,” Mahr says. The E-2D will carry an even larger electronically scanned array radar which offers both electronic and mechanical antenna scans, Mahr says. The combination produces 360 degree radar coverage, but allows the AESA elements to dwell longer on critical areas. Rotation also can be locked to search for the smallest, most elusive targets. A primary function will be defense of the fleet through early detection and targeting of cruise missiles.



The initial E-2D flight was used to validate basic control and airframe behavior of the early-warning, command and control aircraft which carries a large, saucer radar antenna. While the saucer’s shape and weight are largely compensated for, veteran E-2 pilots say the rotating antenna can produce torque that needs to be compensated for with trim or engine power adjustments. Crew for the E-2D’s first flight included Northrop Grumman’s Tom Boutin as pilot, the Navy’s Lt. Drew Ballinger as co-pilot and a company weapons system operator, Zyad Hajo.

The flights also monitored performance of the design’s new Rolls-Royce T56-A-427 engine. The engine is more powerful than that on the E-2C to compensate for the D-model’s heavier weight.




The Aug. 7 second and Aug. 9 third flights [Ed. note: this flight did not happen today] continued a check out of basic performance and involved very little envelope expansion. Analysts say the only problems so far involved a small hydraulic leak during the first flight and having to schedule flights around a series of afternoon thunderstorms. The fourth flight could come as early as Oct. 13. The completed test program is to involve about 350 flights. See more details in Monday’s Aviation Week & Space Technology.

11 minute video of E-2D first flight

Credit: Northrop Grumman