Northrop Grumman has commemorated its 30-year collaboration with empennage supplier Potez Aéronautique on E-2 Airborne Command and Control aircraft programs.
“Our three-decade collaboration with Potez reflects our commitment to building global industrial partnerships,” Vice President of multi-domain command and control programs at Northrop Grumman, Janice Zilch, said.
“We look forward to providing the French Navy a generational leap in decision dominance with the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, the world’s premier airborne command and control aircraft.”
This collaboration has continued with Potez producing empennages that will be fitted on E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft manufactured by Northrop Grumman for the French Navy.
The ceremony was hosted by Potez Aéronautique and brought together representatives from the French and US Navy, the Direction Générale de l'armement, and Northrop Grumman. It has marked the completion of the empennage that will be fitted on the French Navy’s first E-2D at Northrop Grumman’s St. Augustine, Fla. manufacturing facility.
Northrop Grumman has been contracted to produce three E-2D aircraft for the French Navy, the first of which is scheduled for delivery in 2027. Advanced Hawkeyes will replace France’s E-2C Hawkeye 2000 fleet, which has been in operation for over 25 years.
Potez Aéronautique is a supplier for Northrop Grumman’s E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, manufacturing empennages for all E-2Ds produced for the United States and international customers, and has produced these components for E-2C Hawkeye variants.