Hello from the Pentagon and your Air Warfare team on the OpNav staff. I hope this article finds you making plans for Hook '06, which looks to be even bigger and better then Hook '05 (which was outstanding!). I look forward to seeing all of you this September in Reno at the Nugget.
By the time you read this, I will have turned the reins of Air Warfare (N88) over to RADM Bruce "Santee" Clingan. In September 2005, Admiral Clingan joined N88 from command of the Carl Vinson Strike Group, leading its around-the-world deployment as USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) shifted home port from Bremerton to Norfolk. He is an experienced F-14 driver with tours in VF-124, VF-114 and VF-211, serving as XO of VF-101 and CO of VF-11. Furthermore, he is a nuclear power school graduate who also commanded LaSalle (AGF-3) and Carl Vinson. Since his arrival at N88, he has served superbly as my deputy director and head of the maritime, training and unmanned divisions. You can rest assured knowing that Naval Aviation interests in the D.C. arena are in very capable hands. Welcome aboard, Santee, I stand relieved.
As my last article for The Hook, I would like to discuss the mighty "Eyes of the Fleet" -- the indispensable E-2 Hawkeye. Since beginning the transition from the E-1B Tracer in 1964, the Hawkeye has been the eyes of the fleet and has served the U.S. Navy around the world. In the '80s, Hawkeyes directed carrier strikes against terrorist-related Libyan targets in the Mediterranean. In the '90s, E-2Cs provided the command and control for successful operations during Operation Desert Storm, directing both land attack and combat air patrol missions over Iraq and providing control for the shootdown of two Iraqi aircraft by VFA-81 Hornets on the first day of the war. E-2 aircraft also have worked extremely effectively with U.S. law enforcement agencies in drug interdictions, and throughout the many years we covered the No Fly Zone in Iraq for Operation Southern Watch. Our increased emphasis on providing close air support to ground troops placed new demands on the E-2 and, as always, the AEW community accepted the challenge and performed brilliantly. They acted as a bridge between aircraft delivering ordnance and the ground controllers in both Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Because the Hawkeye can stay on station significantly longer than strike aircraft, they have created continuity in command and control over both Afghanistan and Iraq. They are the airborne facilitator, making things happen for the forces on the ground engaged with the enemy.
The original E-2C, known as the Group 0, became operational in 1973 and has been through several upgrade programs since then. Group I and II soon followed and featured the APS-145 radar. The Group II has been incrementally upgraded with navigation systems, displays and computers cumulating in the E-2C Hawkeye 2000 variant. The Hawkeye 2000 features a new mission computer, satellite communications and improved workstations as well as data links for the cooperative engagement capability data-link system. Hawkeye 2000s first deployed in 2003 on board Nimitz (CVN-68) with the VAW-117 Wallbangers and CVW-11. We are now fielding Hawkeyes with upgraded eight-bladed props as part of the NP2000 program. The first squadron to cruise with the new propellers was the VAW-124 Bear Aces. All East Coast VAW squadrons are now equipped with the new prop, with West Coast transitions continuing. The new props have higher reliability, reduced drag and lower noise level. (The “humming” of the old props is significantly reduced, but, you'll still recognize a Hawkeye's distinctive sound on the flight deck.)
The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, using the E-2C Hawkeye 2000 configuration as a baseline, will begin production in 2008. The major improvement of the E-2D is slated to be a state-of-the-art UHF radar with an electronically scanned array antenna, as well as upgraded aircraft electrical systems that will improve supportability and increase readiness. The E-2D radar is a multi-generational leap in performance over the existing APS-145 system and will be transformational in detection and accuracy with significantly improved overland, jamming and EMI capability. The single integrated air picture provided by the E-2D in littoral and overland operations will vastly expand our battlespace surveillance and flexible targeting capability. The E-2D's new communications systems will make it a major node in the Navy's FORCEnet information/ decisions grid, enabling it to integrate and deliver key information and surveillance data, fuse decision data and provide forward control and communications capabilities. The Advanced Hawkeye will provide the enhanced airborne command and control and expanded surveillance umbrella that will be a foundation of Sea Power 21.
The Hawkeye will continue to meet airborne early warning, surveillance, battle management and theater missile defense needs as the Navy achieves its Sea Power 21 concepts in support of Joint Vision 2020. The dominant command and control provided by the Hawkeye will only continue to expand as the E-2 grows in missions, communications, capabilities and sensors in a network-centric environment. The warriors of the AEW community always have answered the call, were the first off the deck and the last to touch down after countless hours in the air. This ensures the maximum offensive power of the air wing is utilized by providing the precise detection, tracking and information network for optimum engagement opportunities.
We are bending metal on our first Advanced Hawkeye. I look forward to the E-2D's first flight and to seeing you at Hook 2006 in Reno. As this is my last column for The Hook, I would like to thank all of the members of the Tailhook Association for their unwavering support for Naval Aviation. The grass-roots support from the field -- including active duty, Reserves and retired — is key to those of us working in D.C. to keep Naval Aviation strong and vibrant. Again, my thanks for keeping the faith in Naval Aviation and keep charging!