E-2D aircraft upgrade moves into integration and testing
NewsAugust 19, 2026
MELBOURNE, Florida. Northrop Grumman completed a government-led critical design review for the Block II upgrade to the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye airborne early warning aircraft, clearing the modernization effort to enter integration and testing, the company announced in a statement.
The Block II effort includes changes to the aircraft's mission-system software and hardware intended to improve situational awareness and crew operations, the statement reads. The upgrade uses a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) and commercial off-the-shelf technology to support future modifications and fleet sustainment, the company says.
Northrop Grumman plans to incorporate Block II into its E-2D production line for new aircraft while also retrofitting aircraft already in service, according to the statement. The company expects to begin integration and testing following the design review and plans to deliver Block II-equipped aircraft by the end of the decade.
