Hobby Master HA4816 | Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye 34-3459 AEW Group, JASDF, Misawa Air Force Base, 2019

General Background:

The Northrop E-2 Hawkeye is an all-weather airborne early warning aircraft (AEW). The E-2 was a twin-turboprop developed in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s for the USN. The E-2 is a carrier- capable aircraft and has received major upgrades in their electronics for the E-2B and E-2C with the E-2C also receiving improved turbo-prop engines. The E-2 has been in production since the 1960’s making it the longest production run of any carrier based aircraft. The E-2C variant became operational in 1973.

The Aircraft:

Japan’s first of 13 Grumman E-2C Hawkeye went into service with the AEW Group 601st Hikotai at Misawa in January 1987. A few of these aircraft eventually went to equip the 603rd Hikotai at Naha. In 2005 the 601st and 603rd were re-designated Hiko Keikai Kanshitai Air Warning Surveillance Squadrons but in 2014 the Hiko Keikai Kanshitai was split and became 1 and 2 Hiko Keikai Kanshitai with E-2C 34-3459 c/n A20-953 becoming part of 1 HKK. The E-2C will eventually be phased out by the newer E-2D.

Specifications for the Northrop E-2C Hawkeye
Number of E-2C delivered – USN/180, USN Reserve for drug interdiction/6, others countries/30
Crew – 5 / 1 Pilot, 1 Co-Pilot, 1 Radar Officer (RO), 1 Combat Information Center
Officer (CICO),
1 Aircraft Control Officer (ACO)
Dimensions
Length – 57 ft 8.75 in (17.60 m)
Wingspan – 80 ft 7 in (24.56 m)
Height – 18 ft 3.75 in (5.58 m)
Weight
Empty – 40,200 lb (18,090 kg)
Loaded – 43,068 lb (19,536 kg)
Maximum Take-off – 57,500 lb (26,083 kg)
Performance
Engines – 2 x Allison / Rolls Royce T56-A-427 5,100 shp (3,800 kW) each
Speed
Maximum – 350 knots (648 km/h)
Cruise – 256 knots (474 km/h
Ferry Range – 1,462 nmi (2,708 km)
Service Ceiling – 34,700 ft (10,576 m)
Endurance – 6 hrs
Avionics
AN/APS-145 Radar
OL-483/AP IFF interrogator system
APX-100 IFF Transponder
OL-698/ASQ Tactical Computer Group
AN/ARC-182 UHF/VHF radio
AN/ARC-158 UHF radio
AN/ARQ-34 HF radio
AN/USC-42 Mini-DAMA SATCOM system