US Approves $1.7Bn Sale of Advanced Hawkeye Surveillance Airplanes to Japan

The US State Department has approved a $1.7 billion sale of four E-2D Advanced Hawkeye early warning aircraft to Japan.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The US State Department has approved a $1.7 billion sale of four E-2D Advanced Hawkeye early warning aircraft and associated parts to Japan, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in a statement on Monday.

“The proposed sale of E-2D AHE aircraft will improve Japan’s ability to effectively provide homeland defense utilizing an Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) capability,” DSCA stated.

The statement explained the new aircraft will augment Japan’s existing E-2C Hawkeye fleet.

The new aircraft will serve to provide Japan early warning and control situational awareness of air and naval activity in the Pacific, according to the statement.

The advanced Hawkeye is the newest version in the E-2 fleet designed to provide early warning surveillance of aircraft, surface and cruise missile threats to command centers and to warfighters.

The US Navy refers to the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye as the "digital quarterback" of the battlefield as it provides 360 degree radar, friend or foe identification as well as mechanical and electronic scanning capabilities. It also provides integrated communication networks with warfighters and command centers.