"Lead the way"
- Motto of VAW-116 Squadron

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-116 "Sun Kings", then embarked upon the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) during May 2007. Sold Out!

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

Release Date: December 2019

Historical Account: "Sun Kings" - Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 116 (VAW-116) is a US Navy Command and Control Squadron that deploys aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt as part of Carrier Air Wing Seventeen, flying the E-2C Hawkeye 2000 aircraft. VAW-116 is stationed at Naval Base Ventura County under the cognizance of Commander, Airborne Command Control and Logistics Wing (COMACCLOGWING). The current Commanding Officer is Commander Guillermo I. Carrillo.

In January 2000, the squadron deployed again to conduct surveillance operations at NS Roosevelt Roads in Support of JIATF-EAST.

The squadron deployed aboard USS Constellation to the Western Pacific and the Persian Gulf from March 15th, 2001, to September 15th, 2001, providing an airborne early warning for Operation Southern Watch over Iraq. The squadron deployed to NAS Norfolk in support of Operation Noble Eagle. During this operation, they assisted in providing continual airborne early warning coverage over the East Coast as a result of the September 11th attacks.

VAW-116 embarked on USS Constellation to the Western Pacific and the Persian Gulf in October 2002. The squadron flew extensive Airborne Battlefield Command and Control missions in support of the U.S. Army V Corps and the U.S. Marine Corps II MEF's invasion of Iraq and advance on Baghdad during the initial weeks of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

In November 2003, the squadron began transitioning to the E-2C Hawkeye 2000 airframe. VAW-116 completed the transition in August 2004 with the delivery of the squadron's fourth and final aircraft. The squadron embarked on USS Abraham Lincoln in October 2004, to execute a surge deployment to the Western Pacific. They completed Integrated Warfare Training in the vicinity of Hawaii before transiting west. Their deployment was extended when the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group was called to assist in Operation Unified Assistance in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, as a result of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. The squadron aided in the effort by sending Sailors ashore to distribute much-needed food and medical aid to the wounded disaster victims.

The squadron returned to sea in March 2006 on a Western Pacific deployment in support of exercises Foal Eagle, Valiant Shield and RIMPAC 2006. Upon their return from deployment in 2006, the squadron upgraded their aircraft with the eight-bladed New Propeller 2000 system (NP2K). This upgrade was completed in March 2007, just after the squadron returned from detachment to NAS Fallon. In May 2007, the squadron completed NP2K carrier qualification aboard USS Harry S. Truman off the Virginia Coast. In March 2008, the squadron embarked on a seven-month deployment with Carrier Air Wing Two aboard USS Abraham Lincoln to the U.S. Fifth Fleet Area of Responsibility (AOR) where they flew 266 combat missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq and Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

In March 2008, the squadron embarked with Carrier Air Wing Two aboard USS Abraham Lincoln for deployment to the U.S. Fifth Fleet Area of Responsibility. They participated in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom and provided tanker and airspace management for strike and support aircraft. During the deployment, the squadron earned the CVW-2 Deployment Top Hook award and the Chief's Mess was presented the Broadsword Award for the best CPO Mess in CVW-2. They returned home in October 2008.