Northrop Grumman has built its first E-2D advanced Hawkeye aircraft which has entered the U.S. Navy fleet. It was “welcomed home” in a ceremony which was held at Norfolk Naval air station in Virginia. At the ceremony there were many senior officials from the navy and the company. Admiral Gary Roughead, who is the chief of naval operations, accepted the delivery of the aircraft on behalf of the U.S.Navy. "Today is a major naval aviation milestone," Roughead said. "The E-2D is ready, relevant and capable. It's going to be a game changer with information dominance for the U.S. Navy. I am very pleased today to accept delivery of the first E-2D to enter the U.S. Navy fleet."

The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, with its newly developed AN/APY-9 radar, works in concert with surface combatants equipped with the Aegis combat system to detect, track and defeat cruise missile threats at extended range. A new rot dome contains critically important, continuous, 360-degree scanning capability, while adding an electronically scanned array. This system allows operators to focus the radar on selected areas of interest.

Gary Ervin, corporate vice president and president of Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems said "the E-2D's systems represent a multi-generational leap in technology. It is built to be relevant for decades to come and will greatly facilitate how the Navy manages the complex, modern battle space and emerging threats of today and tomorrow." The first Navy squadron to operate the E-2D Advance Hawkeye is airborne early warning squadron ONE TWO ZERO (VAW-120), which is based in Norfolk.