E-2D Hawkeye Block II Upgrade To Become
The US Navy's E-2D Hawkeye is getting a major upgrade, making it a key command-and-control hub for future carrier air wings with next-gen fighters.
The US Navy is advancing a $1.19 billion upgrade program for its E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, aiming to keep the carrier-based early warning aircraft in service into the 2040s. The Block II program, which passed a critical design review in August 2026, is designed to make the Hawkeye the central 'quarterback' for a networked fleet of F-35Cs, future F/A-XX fighters, MQ-25 drones, and Collaborative Combat Aircraft.
E-2D Block II Upgrade Details
The Navy's Portfolio Acquisition Executive Aviation (PAE) approved the modification to accelerate the E-2D upgrade in August 2026. Flight tests are scheduled to begin in Fiscal Year 2029. According to the PAE, the core of the Block II upgrade is a new "software foundation for rapid capability insertion."
The PAE stated the upgrade "delivers the software foundation for rapid capability insertion" and "introduces state-of-the-art cockpit architecture, increased computing power, an Open Mission Systems framework and robust cybersecurity." This open architecture is intended to overcome parts obsolescence and enable rapid software updates, a contrast to the proprietary systems on aircraft like the F-35.
Operational Role and International Use
Hawkeyes are built around the AN/APY-9 active electronically scanned array radar and are the US Navy's most advanced command-and-control aircraft. Following 2026's Operation Epic Fury, US Fleet Forces commander Admiral Karl Thomas said the Hawkeyes were key to detecting missile and drone threats from Iran. Thomas stated, "Quite frankly, it's the best that we have at detecting that type of thing."
Several other nations operate the E-2 Hawkeye family.
| Operator | Notable Detail |
|---|---|
| US Navy | Primary operator; needs 86 aircraft. |
| France | Only other nation operating them from an aircraft carrier (Charles de Gaulle). |
| Egypt | Operates the E-2 family. |
| Japan | Operates the E-2 family. |
| Mexico | Operates the E-2 family. |
| Taiwan | Operates the E-2 family. |
The French carrier's E-2C Hawkeyes provide its carrier group with more situational awareness than the Royal Navy's Queen Elizabeth-class carriers, which cannot operate the Hawkeye due to their ski-jump ramps.
The Quarterback for Next-Gen Fighters
The Block II upgrade's Open Mission Systems framework, greater processing power, and modern data interfaces are designed to integrate future systems quickly. Navy and Northrop Grumman officials frame this open architecture as the bridge to "sixth-generation command and control."
The aircraft is intended to evolve into a central node that can "see, fuse, distribute, and command" for a mixed fleet. Its three mission operators will manage battles in a way difficult to replicate inside a single-seat stealth fighter. This ecosystem role was highlighted by analysts discussing the reported downing of a Russian Su-35S by an older Ukrainian F-16, suggesting a wider sensor and command network was decisive.
The Navy's future carrier air wing is planned to include the E-2D, stealth F-35Cs, sixth-generation F/A-XX fighters, legacy Super Hornets, MQ-25 Stingray tanker drones, and Collaborative Combat Aircraft. The Hawkeye is expected to serve as the connective tissue quarterbacking this diverse force.
