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. 

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.  

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.