"Obsolete weapons do not deter."
- British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher

The Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye is an American all-weather, carrier-capable tactical airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft. This twin-turboprop aircraft was designed and developed during the late 1950s and early 1960s by the Grumman Aircraft Company for the United States Navy as a replacement for the earlier E-1 Tracer, which was rapidly becoming obsolete. The aircraft's performance has been upgraded with the E-2B, and E-2C versions, where most of the changes were made to the radar and radio communications due to advances in electronic integrated circuits and other electronics. The fourth version of the Hawkeye is the E-2D, which first flew in 2007. The E-2 was the first aircraft designed specifically for its role, as opposed to a modification of an existing airframe, such as the Boeing E-3 Sentry. Variants of the Hawkeye have been in continuous production since 1960, giving it the longest production run of any carrier-based aircraft.

The E-2 also received the nickname "Super Fudd" because it replaced the E-1 Tracer "Willy Fudd". In recent decades, the E-2 has been commonly referred to as the "Hummer" because of the distinctive sounds of its turboprop engines, quite unlike that of turbojet and turbofan jet engines. In addition to U.S. Navy service, smaller numbers of E-2s have been sold to the armed forces of Egypt, France, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Singapore and Taiwan.

Pictured here is a 1:72 scale replica of a USN Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye AEW Aircraft that was attached to VAW-126 "Seahawks", then embarked upon the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) during May 2011. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Wingspan: 13-1/2-inches
Length: 9-3/4-inches

Release Date: July 2018

Historical Account: "Seahawks" - Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 126 (VAW-126), nicknamed the "Seahawks", is a carrier airborne early warning squadron of the United States Navy. The squadron is based at NS Norfolk, equipped with four E-2D Hawkeye aircraft.

VAW-126 deployed on board the Navy's newest aircraft carrier at the time, USS Harry S. Truman from November 2000 to May 2001. Their time was spent in the Mediterranean and Arabian Seas flying over 850 flight hours in support of Operation Southern Watch. Squadron maintenance crews earned two Golden Wrench Awards while deployed. Following deployment, the squadron spent several weeks at NS Roosevelt Roads supporting counter-narcotic operations in the region.

The squadron deployed aboard USS Harry S. Truman with CVW-3 in December 2002. The squadron flew 100 sorties and over 445 hours in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The squadron returned home to Norfolk in May 2003. In recognition of the year's accomplishments, the Seahawks were awarded the 2003 COMNAVAIRLANT Battle "E" as well as the 2003 RADM Frank Akers Award for Superior AEW Excellence.

In October 2004, VAW-126 deployed aboard USS Harry S. Truman to the Persian Gulf for a second deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. During this highly intensive combat cruise, the squadron flew 419 combat missions into Iraq, accumulating more than 2000 flight hours in support of the operation. In December 2004, the squadron sent two aircraft from the Persian Gulf to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom for the inauguration of the first democratically elected president. This was the first time the Seahawks supported two separate campaigns simultaneously. The squadron returned home in April 2005.

After the combat cruise in April 2005, the squadron was constantly on the go supporting the Fleet Response Plan. In September 2005 the squadron was called into service to perform rescue and relief operations in response to Hurricane Katrina. With over 150 aircraft operating over the devastated Gulf Coast at any given time, rescuing survivors and delivering much-needed supplies, command and control were essential. VAW-126 provided the air coordination, staging out of NAS Pensacola, flying more than 46 sorties over a period of 18 days.