Japan receives first E-2D Advanced Hawkeye AEW&C aircraft

The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye recently delivered by Northrop Grumman is the first of four aircraft Japan already firmly signed for. It first flew in November 2017. 

“Northrop Grumman’s longstanding partnership with Japan is beginning a new chapter with the delivery of the first Japan E-2D,” said Jane Bishop, vice president and integrated product team leader, manned airborne surveillance programs, Northrop Grumman. “This aircraft provides a significant increase in early warning and surveillance capability to outpace Japan’s evolving security needs.”

« The aircraft can also be used in a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief capacity for civilian emergency coordination, » Northrop Grumman added. 

In addition to the four E-2Ds ordered in November 2015, July 2016, June 2018 and October 2018, Japan requested an additional nine AEW&C aircraft under a USD3.135 billion proposed Foreign Military Sale. 

The JASDF currently operates a fleet of 13 E-2C Hawkeye and four E-767 aircraft as part of its AEW Wing. The E-2Cs will all be phased out of the service by the late 2020s.

The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye is the latest variant of the E-2 Maritime Patrol Aircraft, replacing the E-2C Hawkeye. It brings revolutionary capabilities to the carrier strike group, including the new and powerful AN/APY-9 radar, which is a two-generational leap in technology.