Northrop Grumman Corp., prime contractor for the U.S. Navy’s E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, has begun talks with foreign industry about possibly including them in building the airborne early-warning (AEW) system.
E. David Murray, director of AEW international programs at Northrop Grumman, said June 14 that the company started the production discussions earlier this year with “two or three” countries. Foreign firms involved in the talks include Potez, a French company that builds the tail assembly for the E2-C Hawkeye 2000, the predecessor to the Advanced Hawkeye.
“We are talking of the potential of some countries building major segments” of the Advanced Hawkeye, including possibly having Potez produce the tail assembly, Murray said.
Within the next two years, Northrop Grumman expects to iron out plans for foreign involvement in production, Murray said at a press briefing here at the show. There may also be opportunities for foreign companies to make upgrades to the aircraft, said Navy Capt. Stephen Rorke.
The E-2D is under development, with a critical design review slated for this fall. The Navy hopes to buy 73 Advanced Hawkeyes and begin fielding them in fiscal 2011.
The E-2D is designed to improve upon the E-2C’s situational awareness systems and upgrade the radar suite to provide a missile-tracking capability. The E-2C is used for various missions, including warning of enemy aircraft.
Meanwhile, Northrop Grumman is hoping for more sales of the Hawkeye 2000, the Hawkeye version currently in production. India, Malaysia, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates all have asked for information about the Hawkeye 2000, Murray said. The U.S. Navy and six foreign countries already operate more than 100 E-2Cs, either the Hawkeye 2000 or an earlier version. —Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
