E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Program Awarded U.S. Navy Contract for Low-Rate Initial Production

(Source: US Department of Defense; issued June 15, 2009)

Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Bethpage, N.Y., is being awarded a $360,464,709 modification to definitize the previously awarded E-2D Advanced Hawkeye advance acquisition contract for two Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) aircraft (N00019-08-C-0027) to a fixed-price-incentive fee contract.

In addition, this contract provides long lead material and related support for the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye LRIP Lot 2 aircraft.

Work will be performed in Bethpage, N.Y., (31.27 percent); Syracuse, N.Y., (23.57 percent), various locations within the United States (19.06 percent); St. Augustine, Fla., (16.36 percent); Menlo Park, Calif., (3.81 percent); Indianapolis, Ind., (3.76 percent); and Rolling Meadows, Ill., (2.17 percent), and is expected to be completed in October. 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.

The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md. is the contracting activity. (ends)


Northrop Grumman’s E-2D Advanced Hawkeye program has moved into low-rate initial production, and should enter Operational Evaluation in FY 2012. (Northrop-Grumman photo)

Advanced Hawkeye Program Reaches Milestone C

(Source: US Naval Air Systems Command; issued June 15, 2009)

(These releases became accessible on the Navair website on June 22, 2009)

NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, Md. –-- The Navy’s E-2D Advanced Hawkeye program received approval to begin low-rate initial production June 11.

Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, Ashton Carter, signed the Acquisition Decision Memorandum that delivered the decision following a Milestone C review for which the program underwent a system design verification and demonstration during developmental testing.

Low-rate initial production allows a ramp-up in manufacturing of a weapon system, allowing the program to prove confidence in the aircraft’s development before moving into full-rate production.

The decision comes after the E-2D’s completion of an operational assessment last fall to verify the aircraft’s systems capability, suitability and design will be fully responsive to the future needs of the carrier air strike group.

“The men and women of this program have worked extremely hard for the past six years to reach this major acquisition milestone, and to deliver this advanced capability to the warfighter,” said Capt. Shane Gahagan, Hawkeye Greyhound program manager. “This decision is significant because it gets us closer to delivering on that promise that was made over six years ago.”

The decision coincided with a review and recertification of the E-2D program under the Nunn-McCurdy certification process. The Navy determined that the program experienced a significant cost growth of 25 percent above the original baseline estimated in 2003, resulting in a critical Nunn-McCurdy breach, and notified Congress.

A rigorous review showed that the critical breach could be mitigated by programming the procurement of E-2D aircraft at a more efficient rate. The Navy has taken this mitigating action and is already implementing discrete cost reduction initiatives and capitalizing on lessons learned to improve upon projected cost.

Cost drivers in the program include estimating increases to the E-2D radar, antenna, funding instability and minor changes to capability requirements. The Navy will continue to review and implement discrete cost reduction initiatives, including possible multi-year procurements and capitalize on lessons learned to improve upon projected costs.

Under the E-2D’s low-initial rate production, the Navy will procure two aircraft each in fiscal year 2009 and 2010. The program of record indicates the Navy will purchase 75 total aircraft.

When fielded to the Fleet, the E-2D will join the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and EA-18G Growler, to comprise the future carrier flight deck continuing the Navy’s integrated warfighting legacy.

The first E-2D System Development and Demonstration aircraft, known as Delta One, arrived here May 31 for continued developmental testing in preparation for Initial Operational Test and Evaluation. The second E-2D, known as Delta Two, will arrive at NAS Patuxent River later this summer. The program is on-track for Initial Operational Test & Evaluation in 2011.

Delta One and Delta Two have achieved more than 1,000 successful flight test hours.

The aircraft, developed by Northrop Grumman at its St. Augustine Manufacturing Center, St. Augustine, Fla., have been through initial ground and flight testing at the center since May 2007. (ends)




Additional slightly older article...


Newest Hawkeye Comes Home

(Source: US Naval Air Systems Command; issued June 9, 2009)

NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, Md.--– The latest aircraft variant of the E-2 platform, the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, arrived here May 30 to begin the next phase of testing in preparation for Initial Operational Test & Evaluation.

The aircraft known as Delta One, recently assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 20, made the 2.5-hour flight from the Northrop Grumman St. Augustine Manufacturing Center, St. Augustine, Fla. The ferry-flight crew of four included VX-20 flight test pilot, Lt. Cmdr. Lawrence Nance, integrated test team members from Northrop Grumman, Tom Boutin and Bill Zegarski, and Wyle’s Ray Collazo.

Delta One made its maiden flight Aug. 2007 and has spent the last 21 months executing initial flight testing at the center.

“I'm very excited to continue developmental testing of the E-2D at VX-20,” said VX-20 Commanding Officer, Cmdr. John Lemmon. “The entire integrated test team has done a phenomenal job so far testing the aircraft at the contractor's facility. The aircraft and test team are arriving at Pax River after safely executing more than 1,000 flight test hours - a true testament to the professionalism with which the E-2D ITT conducts business.”

The E-2D will undergo shore-based carrier suitability testing to evaluate the systems’ handling of catapult shots and arrested landings, and the interoperability between the aircraft and the carrier. Tests will be conducted at the shore-based TC-7 catapult and the MK-7 arresting gear facilities here.

The E-2D is the Navy's replacement for the E-2C as it enters its fifth decade of service next year.

“For over 40 years, the E-2 has been the Navy’s linchpin of airborne early warning, and command and control,” said Capt. Shane Gahagan, Hawkeye Greyhound program manager. “We are eager to continue testing the aircraft here at Pax and providing the warfighter with this advanced capability to remain that linchpin well into late this century.”

The E-2D features a state-of-the-art radar with a two-generation leap in capability and upgraded aircraft systems that allow the aircraft the ability to work in the littoral and over land.

Using the E-2C Hawkeye 2000 configuration as a baseline, the E-2D will provide advance warning of approaching enemy surface units, cruise missiles and aircraft, to vector interceptors or strike aircraft to attack, as well as provide area surveillance, communications relay, search and rescue coordination and air traffic control.

Beyond the battle group, the E-2D’s command and control capability makes it a multi-mission platform through its ability to coordinate concurrent missions that may arise during a single flight, to include: airborne strike, land force support, rescue operations, managing a reliable communications network between widely dispersed nodes and support for drug interdiction operations.

The use of the new glass cockpit and tactical fourth operator display allows the five-person crew more flexibility in fulfilling these diverse missions.

“The capability that the Hawkeye and Advanced Hawkeye bring to the Navy is imperative to the support of the warfighter and to the multi-faceted missions this aircraft executes around the world,” said Rear Adm. W. Mark Skinner, Program Executive Officer for Tactical Aircraft.

Delta One will remain here for the duration of its lifetime serving as an E-2D test asset for future system and air vehicle upgrades. The second E-2D System Development and Demonstration aircraft known as Delta Two, will arrive here later this summer.

“This first of two E-2D test assets to join VX-20's stable of aircraft will continue executing the flight test program during an exciting time of increased flight test activity on numerous programs here,” said Lemmon.

-ends-

Sgt S
Great post, pic. Looks good for Norhtrup Grumman. The folks at Pax river will work hard on test, evaluation. The LRIP contract will ensure keeping the line open also.
Worked with the ancestor of the E2 years ago. Grumman folks deployed with us as Logistics support on Yankee station. A good company, always has been Pro USN.
Semper FI
end

E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Enters Low-Rate Production

(Source: Northrop Grumman; issued July 7, 2009)

BETHPAGE, N.Y. --- Manufacturing of Northrop Grumman Corporation's first Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, the sixth E-2D to be produced, has kicked off with the start of keel assembly at the company's East Coast Manufacturing and Flight Test Center in St. Augustine, Fla.

The work is being performed under a $432 million contract awarded June 15 by the U.S. Navy, which includes two LRIP Lot 1 aircraft and an Advanced Acquisition Contract for two LRIP Lot II aircraft, as well as associated engineering and testing.

"The start of Low-Rate Initial Production brings us one step closer to delivering this high-quality, reliable E-2D Advanced Hawkeye weapons system to the warfighter," said Jim Culmo, vice president of Airborne Early Warning and Battle Management Command and Control programs for Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems sector. "In addition to this first LRIP Lot I aircraft, the first three pilot production E-2D aircraft are moving through the production process, ahead of schedule, and we are on track to deliver the first pilot production aircraft in 2010."

While the state-of-the-art E-2D's external appearance is similar to the E-2C, presently in operation with the U.S. Navy and four international customers, the systems and capabilities contained in the E-2D have been completely redesigned. At the heart of this redesign is the new, more powerful AN/APY-9 radar, designed and built by a radar team led by Lockheed Martin. Representing a two-generational leap in radar technology, the AN/APY-9 can "see" smaller targets, and more of them, at a greater range than currently fielded radar systems.

Would love to work on this new baby. When i was in we had the last E-1 and was there for the E-2. That should tell my age.