Hello everyone, you are watching another episode of Military TV.
In today’s session, we will learn “why Navy aircraft carriers need the E-2 Hawkeye?”.
If you are curious about this topic, don’t go anywhere and stay tuned only at this channel.
Since the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, the U.S military has scrambled to develop
an efficient Airborne Early Warning (AEW) system to identify a far-off opponent that
is flying low over the sea, as well as any other potential threats to the fleet of aircraft
carriers.
The E-2 Hawkeye A, B, and C variants were the finest of all the early warning platforms,
beating out aircraft like the A-1E Skyraider, C-121 Superconstellation, and E-1B Tracer.
The thing that the Navy desperately needed in the early days of modern aircraft carriers
was low-flying high-speed aircraft that could attack the fleet undetected, since most shipboard
radars were actually suited to higher altitude threats.
The E-2 Hawkeye is called upon as an all-weather airborne command-and-control battle space
management system which serves carrier battle groups, specifically the U.S Navy.
It began operations in 1964 and was designed to provide that AEW for the U.S Navy carriers
by 1968.
It was the first aircraft of its kind ever crafted specifically for AEW.
Though based on the S-2 tracker anti-submarine aircraft, the future program of the E-2 series
currently appears to be highly safe because it is continually being modified for new challenges
of waging air wars over the ocean.
The E-2 was equipped with the doppler radar and has been the aerial surveillance system
for the Navy for more than the 30 years that it has been in service.
This all-weather carrier-based platform is visually distinct for its 24-foot diameter
rotating radar dome or rotodome that revolves at 6 rpm and retracts 24 inches for carrier
stowage.
It is worth noting that the E-2 is the only carrier-based airplane with a rotodome.
In addition, more than 6 million cubic miles of airspace and hundreds of targets can be
simultaneously searched, identified, and tracked by the three system operator crewman using
this highly sophisticated electronic equipment.
The Hawkeye developed by Grumman was the first airborne tactical data system designed for
carrier operations which was equipped with upgraded radar automatic computers and better
communication for the entire U.S fleet.
Any asset in the sky or on the sea can request information from this aircraft because it
is automatic and less intervention from the crew on board.
This allowed the carrier-based command post the ability to coordinate friendly aircraft
and identify enemy aircraft far from the fleet before they even knew they were linked with.
The early warning system Hawkeyes were able to present a massive picture thanks to the
fleet task force tactical data systems.
The close quarters also allow naval flight officers to communicate with each other using
hand signals, and they can even control each other's equipment if someone wants to go down
due to the tight quarters.
The Hawkeye team can recognize and categorize radar emissions to link passive detection
data and other electronic countermeasures for target classification.
This data is transmitted over an incredibly secure data link
to the carrier task force commander for display indecision.
Ironically, an E-2 is typically the first aircraft in the fleet to launch and the last
to land, despite being the most vulnerable and important asset to the entire fleet on
a standard AEW mission.
The E-2 has to fit on an aircraft carrier, its wingspan tops out at 80 feet and 7 inches.
The Hawkeye is powered by two T-56 alpha 427 engines, each rated at 5.100 shaft horsepower.
With the new engines, the E-2C and D can travel up to 200 miles from their original base or
aircraft carrier while cruising on station for more than four hours.
Until recently, the E-2's engine had a wicked four-blade prop that made an enormous racket.
The noise and destructive power of the props made the E-2 become a terrifying presence
on the flight deck, but of course the biggest asset on this aircraft is the immensely powerful
APS-145 radar which is capable of tracking more than 2000 targets concurrently and managing
the interception of 40 hostile targets.
In 1967, 59 Hawkeyes were sent to the Navy, but it soon became clear that the aircraft
required a lot more flexibility.
The charlie model received its initial funding for development in 1968, the same year that
the drum memory in special purpose computers on the E-2 alpha or the original platform
was replaced by programmable add-on core memories.
These upgraded E-2 alphas were designated to the E-2Bs in december 1971.
The E-2C then replaced the E-2B which first entered service in 1973, and in August 2004
it completed one million flight hours.
The aircraft has undergone several modifications to its active and passive sensors, engines,
and propellers.
The E-2C then replaced it with the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye (AHE), the newest variant of the E-2
aircraft, fitting with the APY-9 radar system that significantly improves the clutter rejection
while increasing search volume by up to 250 percent.
What makes it interesting is that the new one can pause to lock onto targets, providing
it with radar operators, and even more data to process to distribute the workload.
The new design offers the co-pilot a scope of his own, allowing him to participate in
the tactical mission when he isn't assisting with the flight of the aircraft.
Furthermore, The navy still continues to invest in future capabilities of E-2D to serve the
command and control requirements for the strike group and overall force.
Aerial refueling (AR) training was finished by the first operational fleet squadron in
FY 2020.
The E-2D AHE's range and persistence are increased by AR.
With AR capabilities, the E-2D can stay in the air and on station for a long time, extending
the carrier's range, dual E-2D coverage, as well as enhancing persistence and operational
flexibility.
Additionally, new high endurance seats, improved fuel systems, and new exterior lighting will
all be available on AR-equipped aircraft.
That’s all for today.
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