U.S. Navy To Field E-2D Precision Landing Capability In 2027

The US Navy plans to begin fielding a precision landing capability on the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye in 2027, extending comparable assistance to the last fixed-wing carrier aircraft without it. A $33 million award to Northrop Grumman covers documentation updates and software development and testing, including operation in contested environments. The system is intended to help crews maintain a more consistent glidepath during carrier approaches, reducing workload and improving safety in demanding conditions. Its introduction will align the E-2D with precision landing technologies already available across the Navy’s other carrier-based fixed-wing fleets.