In preparation for deliveries scheduled for 2027, U.S.-based Northrop Grumman has announced the start of production on the first of the new E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft for the French Navy. France plans to acquire up to three of these aircraft to enhance its airborne early warning capabilities. The production kickoff ceremony was held yesterday at Northrop Grumman’s St. Augustine facility, attended by U.S. and French naval authorities.
The new fleet of three E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft is expected to facilitate the retirement of the French Navy’s current E-2C Hawkeye 2000 aircraft, which have served for nearly 25 years. France remains the only country outside the U.S. operating this type of aircraft from its aircraft carrier, Charles de Gaulle, necessitating extensive cooperation with the U.S. Navy to keep the fleet operational. In 2023, a $160 million comprehensive logistical support package was approved for the French-operated aircraft.
Janice Zilch, Northrop Grumman’s vice president of multi-domain command and control programs, stated: “Our partnership with France spans over 25 years. We are proud to have supported the French Navy with the Hawkeye 2000 and look forward to delivering a generational leap in decision dominance with the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye.”
Notably, the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye is not merely a replacement for older platforms but also introduces enhanced capabilities that will elevate the French Navy’s operational potential. These new aircraft are equipped with in-flight refueling capabilities, upgraded mission computers, and tactical workstations, along with improvements to their identification friend-or-foe (IFF) systems and communication systems. Contractually, their acquisition represents a $2 billion investment, formalized in an agreement signed in 2021.
Cover image: Artistic rendering of the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye for the French Navy, Northrop Grumman.
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