DoD invests in E-2D Hawkeye for enhanced AEW&C capabilities as USAF seeks to place orders
August 18, 2025
As the USAF plans to purchase the Navy’s E-2D Hawkeye radar aeroplane, the DoD is investing in the aircraft. Currently, France, Japan, the US Navy, and perhaps the USAF and Taiwan are ordering new examples of the venerable Hawkeye.
US to invest in Navy’s E-2D Advanced Hawkeye
Airforce Technology reported on August 14th that the US Department of Defense has issued contract modifications for the US Navy’s Northrop Grumman E-2D Advanced Hawkeye. The E-2D is the Navy’s airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, playing a vital role in leveraging other assets.
The DoD is planning to use its growing suite of space-based ISR assets alongside revamped E-2Ds. These are designed to operate from aircraft carriers.
The E-2D is also receiving $59 million for the “repair of the T56-A-427A engines, torque metre, gearbox, and other unspecified E-2D accessories.” Another $16 million is earmarked to “add extensive scope to the production and testing of the Special Programs Advanced Readiness Trainer Afloat/Ashore (SPARTA) 12.”
The DoD is also planning to acquire six aircraft flight management computer functional equivalent units and other modifications.
US Air Force ditching E-7 Wedgetail for E-2D Hawkeye
In June 2025, the Pentagon announced it was planning to cancel the more capable E-7 Wedgetail AEW&C radar plane due to growing expenses and delays.
It said it would purchase the Navy’s E-2D Hawkeye as an interim measure as the ageing E-3 Sentry AEW&C aircraft retire. In the longer term, the Air Force is seeking to move these capabilities into space.
For now, the future of the Wedgetail remains unclear, with Congress moving to provide funding to prohibit the DoD from axing the Wedgetail programme.
By contrast, the E-2D has had an exemplary delivery history and is used by France, Japan, and Taiwan. Although it’s unclear if export delivery schedules will be impacted if the USAF places an order for them.
The French Navy has three older Grumman E-2C Hawkeyes in service and has three more on order, expected to be delivered in 2027.
Japan is also procuring modern E-2D Hawkeyes to replace some of its older E-2C variants. The Taipei Times reported in early 2025 that the island is planning to order another six examples.
Northrop Grumman stated in June that the “latest Block II E-2D Advanced Hawkeye – which comprises a modular open systems approach and artificial intelligence-driven decision-making – will not be fielded for another couple of years.”
The world’s most common AEW&Cs platform
The original Grumman E-2A entered service in 1964, making the platform one of the oldest in the Navy. They have been continuously upgraded and were ranked by the US Navy among its top five acquisition programmes in 2023. The Navy ordered five more Hawkeyes in 2023.
According to FlightGlobal’s 2025 report, the US Navy has a total of 86 Hawkeyes in service and another 16 on order. Other estimates say the US Navy has 80 of the aircraft, with 65 being E-2Ds and 15 being older E-2Cs.
These estimates are confusing, as Northrop Grumman says there are “70 E-2Ds currently supporting global operations.” It’s possible the website has not been updated for years. Northrop also notes that the E-2D is the most numerous AEW&C aircraft in the world.
The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye carrier-borne battle management and control aircraft first flew #OTD in 2007. pic.twitter.com/yV4Gf0RE8I
— Northrop Grumman (@northropgrumman) August 3, 2016
It is unclear how many E-2Ds the USAF would want to buy, although it had planned to purchase up to 26 E-7 Wedgetails.
The War Zone reported the Air Force testifying before the Senate Appropriations Committee saying, “Ma’am, we do have in the budget $150 million in FY26 [Fiscal Year 2026] for a joint expeditionary E-2D unit with five dedicated E-2Ds, and the budget also funds for additional E-2Ds to fill the near-term gap at $1.4 billion.”
