Non-Subscriber Extract
E-2D Advanced Hawkeye to start carrier trials
By Gareth Jennings
15 June 2009
The US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) is to shortly begin aircraft carrier suitability trials of the Northrop Grumman E-2D Advanced Hawkeye airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft.
This phase of the aircraft's test programme will take place at Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River, Maryland, where two test aircraft arrived on 30 May. If successful, this phase will clear the E-2D to begin its Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) phase in 2011.
All fleet-based US Naval aircraft undergo carrier suitability trials to ensure that the airframes and systems are compatible with ship-borne operations. As well as testing the aircraft, manpower and interoperability issues are also addressed.