Project manager says there is wide interest in Advanced Hawkeye
Northrop Grumman hopes to get U.S. authorizations by the end of the year to market its Advanced Hawkeye E-2D airborne early warning and control aircraft to a short list of interested countries, said international program manager Tom Trudell, speaking at the Singapore Airshow.
"We're hoping by the end of the year," said. "We see opportunities in the marketplace. We're assessing those now."
The company looks to find new export clients for the Hawkeye, which is operated by Egypt, France, Japan, Singapore and Taiwan. Only France and the U.S. Navy operate their E-2 planes from carriers, with the others working from shore-based facilities.
The clearance process for exporting U.S. military technology is long and highly detailed, he said, and although the short list runs to single figures, Trudell said there is wide interest among foreign forces. The United Arab Emirates was one of the countries which has expressed interest. India asked for information on the Hawkeye 2000 around 2003.
A third of the E-2 fleet flies under foreign flags, pointing up the importance of the international community of operators, Trudell said. The next international users conference is due to be held in April at St Augustine, Florida, where the aircraft is built.
The program has met all major milestones so far. "The test program is on track," Trudell said. "This is unique for a program this sophisticated," he added.
The two development aircraft are due to enter a six-month operational assessment in the autumn at the U.S. Navy test center at Patuxent River, Maryland. Clearing that hurdle allows production of the aircraft to continue. A next major "C" milestone is due in spring 2009.
Under the 2003 contract worth $2.4 billion, Northrop Grumman signed up to develop and produce two development and three pilot production aircraft. The contract runs to 2012.
The total buy is for 75 of the new aircraft for the U.S. Navy. An initial operating capability is scheduled in 2011, allowing the U.S. Navy to stand up a first squadron. Pilot production begins this year, followed by low rate initial production in 2009, and full production starts in 2013.
To extend endurance of the new carrier-based E-2s to 12 hours, in-flight refueling tests have been done with C-130 and F-18 aircraft, although fuel transfers will only be made next year. For shore-based aircraft, extra fuel panels on the wings are planned, offering eight hours compared to the current six hours for the Hawkeye 2000, which is being phased out of production.
For the new Hawkeye version, the airframe has been strengthened and a Lockheed Martin ADS-18 electronic scanned array radar replaces a mechanical rotating antenna, extending coverage. Other changes include more powerful Rolls-Royce T56-A-427A engines, six-bladed NP2000 Ratier-Figeac propellers, a glass cockpit and new mission systems computer. New communications and datalink gear and a fourth operator station have also been added.
source: Defense News
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