According to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) news release issued today:
The Government of France requests to buy three (3) E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Aircraft, ten (10) T-56-427A engines (6 installed and 4 spares), three (3) AN/APY-9 radar assemblies, four (4) AN/ALQ-217 electronic support measure systems (3 installed and 1 spare), three (3) AN/AYK-27 Integrated Navigation Channels and Display Systems, five (5) Link-16 (MIDS-JTRS) Communications Systems (3 installed and 2 spares), ten (10) Embedded GPS/INS (EGI) Devices (6 installed and 4 spares), four (4) AN/APX-122(A) and AN/APX-123(A) Identification, Friend or Foe systems (3 installed and 1 spare) and one (1) Joint Mission Planning System. Also included are Common Systems Integration Laboratories with/Test Equipment, one in Melbourne, FL, and the other in France; air and ground crew equipment; support equipment; spare and repair parts; publications and technical documentation; transportation; training and training equipment; U.S. Government and contractor logistics, engineering, and technical support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The total estimated program cost is $2 billion.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve security of a NATO ally which is an important force for political stability and economic progress in Europe.
The proposed sale will improve France’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing its Naval Air Forces with a sustainable follow on capability to their current, legacy E-2C Hawkeye aircraft. The E-2D aircraft will continue and expand French naval aviation capabilities and maintain interoperability with U.S. naval forces. As a current E-2C operator, France will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment and support into its armed forces.
The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.
The principal contractor will be Northrop Grumman Systems Corp, Aerospace Systems, Melbourne, FL. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale. Any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between the Purchaser and the prime contractor.
The French Navy is currently operating three E-2C Hawkeyes which were delivered in 2000. They are flown by squadron Flottile 4F and based in Lann-Bihoue, Britany. The French Navy is the only operator of the E-2 Hawkeye from an aircraft carrier besides the U.S. Navy
In September 2019 Florence Parly, French minister of the Armed Forces, announced that three new E-2D Advanced Hawkeye would be procured in 2020 to replace the ageing E-2C Hawkeyes currently in service. The three E-2D Advanced Hawkeyes will replace the E-2C starting in 2026-2027. They will fly from aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, initially, and will then deploy aboard its replacement (known as PANG program).
If green lighted, this FMS would make France the second export customer of the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye following Japan. The first JASDF E-2D was delivered by Northrop Grumman in March 2019. Two more aircraft reached Japan in April 2020. In addition to the four E-2Ds ordered in November 2015, July 2016, June 2018 and October 2018, Japan requested an additional nine aircraft under a USD3.135 billion proposed Foreign Military Sale, bringing the total to 13 E-2Ds.
About E-2D Advanced Hawkeye
Built by Northrop Grumman, the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye is the latest variant of the E-2 Airborne early warning 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.
The APY-9 radar is an Ultra High Frequency (UHF) surveillance system that provides both mechanical and electronic scanning capabilities designed to “see” smaller targets – and more of them – at a greater range, particularly in coastal regions and over land.
The U.S. Navy has awarded a multi-year procurement contract to Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. for the purchase of 24 E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft in full rate production for fiscal years 2019-2023. This is the second MYP contract awarded to NGSC. The Navy awarded the first in 2014 for the production of 25 E-2D aircraft. The U.S. congress later increased the number to 26 aircraft bringing the total number of E-2Ds on order for the U.S. Navy to 50 aircraft.
On the export side, Japan has 13 E-2D while France is set to procure three new Advanced Hawkeyes to replace the in service E-2C Hawkeyes.
