US Navy clears E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Block II upgrade for flight tests in FY2029

Published Aug 18, 07:50 AM UTC

The U.S. Navy and Northrop Grumman have completed the Critical Design Review for the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Block II modernization, clearing the way for aircraft integration and flight testing in fiscal year 2029. The upgrade, validated by PMA-231, includes a revised cockpit architecture, greater computing capacity, improved cybersecurity, and an Open Mission Systems framework to reduce proprietary interfaces. Block II builds on Delta System Software Configuration 6 and aims to keep the carrier-based airborne command-and-control aircraft effective against long-range missiles, drones, and advanced aircraft. The E-2D uses the AN/APY-9 radar capable of tracking over 3,000 targets simultaneously. The modernization addresses electronic obsolescence by separating software from hardware, enabling faster capability upgrades over the aircraft's decades-long service life.