Jane Edwards
Northrop Grumman has moved a step closer to the build and testing phase for the aerial refueling platform of E-2D Advanced Hawkeye jets after it completed a critical design review exercise with the U.S. Navy.
The company said Tuesday the CDR is part of a program to design, manufacture and assess aerial refueling subsystems for integration with the E-2D aircraft under a $226.7 million contract Northrop received in 2013.
“Aerial refueling will enable the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye to provide longer on-station times at greater ranges,†said Capt. John Lemmon, program manager for the E-2/C-2 Airborne Tactical Data System Program Office.
The company plans to install the flight test components and AR subsystems on board the test aircraft by the second quarter of fiscal year 2016 and expects to achieve initial operational capability in fiscal year 2020.
