Northrop To Integrate Joint Tactical Radio Systems on Japanese AEW&C Planes

Northrop Grumman has won a $16.2 million modification contract to integrate Joint Tactical Radio Systems on Japanese airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft.

“This modification provides non-recurring engineering to incorporate Phase II of the Multifunctional Information Distribution System/Joint Tactical Radio System on the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft in support of the government of Japan,” US Department of Defense said in a statement Monday.

Japan Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF) maintains a fleet of 13 E-2C Hawkeyes and four E-767 aircraft as part of its Airborne Early Warning Wing. The E-2Cs are likely to be decommissioned in the late 2020s.

Japan ordered four E-2Ds for $1.7 billion in 2015. During October last year, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) approved the purchase of 9 additional E-2D Hawkeye aircraft for $3.1 billion. First of the four ordered planes was delivered to Tokyo this May.

The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft is a twin-turboprop, carrier-capable tactical air tactical airborne early warning aircraft. It is equipped with an AN/APY-9 radar, an ultra-high frequency hybrid mechanical/electronically scanned radar system with a 360-degree coverage capability. The aircraft is capable of detecting a ground-to-air cruise missile launch and stealth aircraft. It can be deployed from an aircraft carrier.