Air
Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 1 declared the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye
“suitable and effective” in an Initial Operational Test
and Evaluation (IOT&E) report, aiding the Defense Acquisition Board
in approving the aircraft for full-rate production in January.
“This milestone is the culmination of years of hard work,”
said Capt. John S. Lemmon, E-2/C-2 Airborne Tactical Data System Program
Office (PMA-231) program manager. “The E-2D team came together
with one vision and goal, and the IOT&E report confirms that we
are delivering a solid product to the fleet.” |
During
IOT&E, VX-1 tested the E-2D to determine how well the aircraft could
perform required missions and evaluated the aircraft’s readiness
for fleet introduction scheduled for 2015. IOT&E was conducted according
to current program System Design Development (SDD) requirements.
During testing, VX-1 deployed to several locations to collect flight
test data. Tests were held at Naval Air Station Fallon, Nev. VX-1 participated
in aerial combat training exercises at Nellis Air Force Base during
Red Flag, as well as the Black Dart exercise at Naval Air Station Point
Mugu. Black Dart is designed to test the military’s ability to
counter enemy unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).
”We tested the E-2D in mountainous terrain near Nellis Air Force
Base and elsewhere throughout the country and the aircraft performed
phenomenally,” said Lt. Cmdr. Gregory Harkins, VX-1 operational
test director.
Harkins also said testing showed an increase in combat effectiveness
due to the E-2D’s ability to track small fighter size targets
in difficult environments. The data showed significant improvements
in radar and mission systems performance in overland and littoral scenarios.
“As we push towards fleet introduction, our program office team
stays passionate about our work and committed to the mission,”
Lemmon said. “We genuinely care about what we do and the product
we are delivering to the fleet.”
Initial operational capability (IOC) for the E-2D is planned for 2015. |
