The Northrop Grumman and US Navy team have successfully conducted the preliminary design review (PDR) for its E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aerial refuelling system.

Completion of this critical milestone allows the programme to proceed to its critical design review, moving closer to manufacturing the system and installing it on new production E-2Ds as well as retrofitting it onto E-2Ds that are currently operating in the Navy fleet.

“I’m very pleased with the progress the team has made,” said Captain John Lemmon, Programme Manager, E-2/C-2 Airborne Tactical Data System Programme Office (PMA-231). “Adding an aerial refuelling capability to the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye will extend its critical mission of providing continuous information to the warfighter who depends on it.”

Under a $226.7-million engineering, manufacturing and development contract awarded in 2013, Northrop Grumman is designing several system upgrades necessary to accommodate an aerial refuelling capability. These include new seats to enhance pilot field-of-view and decrease crew fatigue; formation lights for better visualisation and air space orientation; and enhanced software in the aircraft’s flight control system to assist the pilots with aircraft handling qualities when refuelling.