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.
Northrop Grumman E-2C 165256 c/n FR-2 is the second of this aircraft type for the French Navy 4th Flotille. The U.S. and France are the only countries operating the E-2C from an aircraft carrier. The first two E-2Cs for the French Navy were Group 2 standards equipped and delivered in December 1998 and April 1999. The third aircraft was built to Hawkeye 2000 standards and delivered in 2004. In 2007 a 4th E-2C with Hawkeye 2000 standards was ordered and the first 2 E-2Cs upgraded to Hawkeye 2000 standards