The E-2D aircraft features 360-degree radar coverage for comprehensive tracking. Credit: Northrop Grumman.

Northrop Grumman has initiated the manufacture of the first E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft for the French Navy at its St. Augustine facility.  

This marks a step for France in acquiring a leading airborne command and control aircraft. 

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Last year, Northrop Grumman’s Aeronautics Systems division in Melbourne, Florida, secured a $387m contract modification to produce three E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft for France.  

The first delivery is anticipated in 2027.  

These new aircraft will replace France’s E-2C Hawkeye 2000 fleet, which has been operational for more than 25 years. 

The E-2C Hawkeye 2000, which began service with the French Navy in 1998, supports air defence and the Charles de Gaulle carrier strike group.  

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France is the only nation besides the US to operate E-2C Hawkeyes from an aircraft carrier, facilitating interoperability exercises with the US fleet. 

Northrop Grumman multi-domain command and control programmes vice-president Janice Zilch said: “Our partnership with France goes back over 25 years.  

“We are proud to have supported the French Navy with the Hawkeye 2000, and we look forward to providing a generational leap in decision dominance with the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye.” 

The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye represents the latest in a series of airborne early warning aircraft developed by Northrop Grumman over the past 60 years. 

 It serves as an airborne command and control platform. 

The aircraft features 360-degree radar coverage for comprehensive tracking and situational awareness, and its architecture supports rapid technology updates. 

E-2 variants are used by air forces and navies globally.  

With a consistent production line and timely delivery record, the E-2D continues to integrate new technologies to address evolving threats. 

The latest announcement comes after the US Navy (USN) contracted Northrop Grumman to enhance the platform’s cockpit and digital architecture.