US Navy Hawkeye delivered to France for spares

On 5 September 2020, US Navy E-2C Hawkeye, BuNo 165507 and coded AJ-604, arrived at Shannon (Ireland) on its way to France. The aircraft was on a delivery flight to Cuers/Pierrefeu (France), where it will be used for spares for the Aéronautique Navale (AN, French Navy) Hawkeyes. The Hawkeye departed the next day to France.

Cuers/Pierrefeu is located 5 km north-east of Cuers, in the Var department. It was closed as a Base d'aéronautique navale (BAN, Naval Air Station) in 2008. The AIAC-P, Atelier Industrial Aéronautique Cuers Pierrefeu, which is located at the airfield, is entrusted with the maintenance of various aircraft like the Atlantic 2, Hawkeye, NH90, Panther etc.

On 26 September 2019, the French Minister of Defense, Florence Parly, announced the French intention to order the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye. Currently, the French Navy is equipped with three E-2C Hawkeyes, assigned to Flottile 4 (4F) at Naval Air Station Lorient/Lann-Bihoué (France). Since 2004, this trio is responsible for the airborne early warning mission for the Groupe Aérien Embarqué (GAé). The aircraft are deployed to the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle during operations at sea.