Japan wants more E-2D Hawkeyes

The Japanese Ministry of Defence (MoD) is looking for an additional five E-2D Hawkeye Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) on top of its approved acquisition for thirteen aircraft it already requested in various past fiscal year budgets.

One hurdle is now overcome with the approval of a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) of up to five E-2D Advanced Hawkeyes by the US State Department after the Government of Japan made this request. The possible sale will include a multitude of spare engines and various mission systems.

Next step the Japanese MoD has to take is to include the possible acquisition into the Fiscal Year 2023 defence budget request and get the green light in the Japanese Parliament. In the last years the Japanese favour a bulk acquisition instead of the requests for single aircraft per year spread out over multiple years, so Scramble Magazine assesses that all five E-2Ds will be included in this years budget request.

Currently the JASDF has six E-2Ds at its disposal, five aircraft at Misawa and one still in the USA. Furthermore, on paper the JASDF also operates a fleet of thirteen E-2C aircraft from main base Misawa (601 Hikotai) and Naha (603 Hikotai), but at least four are believed to be stored at Gifu. Three E-2Cs were modified and now have eight-bladed props.

Overview JASDF E-2C Hawkeye and E-2D Advanced Hawkeye:

E-2C
34-3451 (l/n nov20), 34-3452 (l/n jul21), 34-3453 (l/n mar20), 34-3454 (l/n oct21), 54-3455 (l/n sep15, stored Gifu?), 54-3456 (l/n nov18, stored Gifu), 54-3457 (l/n nov18, stored Gifu?), 54-3458 (l/n apr18, stored Gifu?), 34-3459 (l/n apr22, 8-blade prop), 34-3460 (l/n jan23, 8-blade prop), 34-3461 (l/n jan23), 44-3462 (l/n jan23), 44-3463 l/n feb23, 8-blade prop)
E-2D
91-3471 (l/n feb23), 91-3472 (l/n oct22 at Melbourne, FL), 01-3473 (l/n sep22), 01-3474 (l/n mar23), 21-3475 (l/n nov22) and 21-3476 (l/n nov22)

Photo by Hans Jacobs