US Navy E-2D Hawkeye Block II upgrade
The US Navy's E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Block II upgrade passed a critical design review in August 2026, with flight tests planned for Fiscal 2029.
The US Navy's E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Block II upgrade passed its critical design review in August 2026. According to SimpleFlying, flight tests for the upgraded carrier-based early warning aircraft are scheduled to begin in Fiscal 2029.
A core aspect of the Block II upgrade is a new software foundation for rapid capability insertion. The Navy's Portfolio Acquisition Executive Aviation (PAE) stated that the modernization introduces state-of-the-art cockpit architecture, increased computing power, an Open Mission Systems framework, and robust cybersecurity.
Block II Contract And Capabilities
In July 2026, Northrop Grumman was awarded a $1.19 billion contract for the first three Block II E-2Ds. The Navy says the Open Mission Systems approach "supercharges the industrial base" and "delivers next-generation capability to the warfighter at the speed of relevance." The modernized cockpit and flight systems are designed to reduce pilot workload while boosting situational awareness.
Hawkeyes are built around the AN/APY-9 active electronically scanned array radar. Following 2026's Operation Epic Fury against Iran, US Fleet Forces commander Admiral Karl Thomas said the Hawkeyes were key to detecting missile and drone threats. He stated, "Quite frankly, it's the best that we have at detecting that type of thing."
International Operators And Future Fleet
Several nations operate the E-2 Hawkeye family. France is notable as the only other country to operate them from an aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle.
| Operator | Status | Notable Detail |
|---|---|---|
| US Navy | Current | Contracted for 3 more in 2026, first delivery 2030; needs 86 total. |
| France | Current | Operates E-2C from carrier Charles de Gaulle. |
| Egypt, Japan, Mexico, Taiwan | Current | Also operate the aircraft. |
| Israel, Singapore | Former | Formerly operated the type. |
| US Air Force | Plan Abandoned | In 2025, planned to buy 5 E-2Ds as a stopgap but recommitted to E-7 Wedgetail after Epic Fury. |
The Navy asked for funding to purchase another six Block II Hawkeyes in its Fiscal 2027 budget. The aircraft is expected to remain in service into the 2040s.
The 'Quarterback' Role For 6th-Gen Fighters
The Block II upgrade is framed as a bridge to sixth-generation command and control. Its open architecture and greater processing power are intended to let the E-2D quarterback a mixed fleet. This future fleet includes the Navy's F-35Cs, planned F/A-XX sixth-generation fighters, legacy Super Hornets, Collaborative Combat Aircraft, and the MQ-25 Stingray tanker drone.
Navy and Northrop officials describe the upgrade as the connective tissue, not a sixth-gen aircraft itself. Its three mission operators will manage the battle, performing a role once associated with an AEW&CS aircraft. The Hawkeye will see, fuse, distribute, and command within the networked ecosystem.
