Amidst a backdrop of escalating regional tensions and a palpable sense of urgency, Taiwan has made a formal request to the United States for six E-2D Advanced Hawkeye airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft, local media reported. The request occurs at a time when the E-2D production line is active, fulfilling orders for both Japan and France, which may facilitate a smoother acquisition process.
The motivation behind Taiwan’s pursuit of the E-2D is clear. The island’s defence planners have been increasingly concerned by a spike in Chinese military incursions. The People’s Liberation Army’s steady march towards stealth aircraft capabilities further accentuates the need for advanced, over-the-horizon platforms like the E-2D. The E-2D is a significant leap forward from the E-2K, sporting an passive electronically scanned array radar and sensor fusion that offers vastly superior multiple-target detection and tracking capabilities. Crucially, the AN/APY-9 radar, with its 350nm range and operating in the UHF-band, is designed to detect small, highly manoeuvrable targets – a capability that Taiwan believes will be essential in countering China’s stealth fighter jets.
Taiwan’s air force first took delivery of four E-2T aircraft back in 1995, and these were subsequently upgraded to E-2K standard in 2013. Two additional E-2Ks joined the fleet in 2005, but one was badly damaged in a 2022 landing accident, when its landing gear failed to deploy due to pilot error. This current request is to replace five operational E-2Ks with six of the advanced E-2Ds.
Taiwan’s bid to acquire these advanced Hawkeyes is well-timed with a critical window of opportunity: the E-2D assembly lines are currently humming along to fulfill a Japanese contract. Tokyo, for its part, has ordered five more E-2Ds with delivery slated for the Japanese fiscal year 2028, a deal worth $1.25 billion.
Beyond Japan, the E-2D production line also has orders from France, a nation that has long been a user of the Hawkeye family of AEW aircraft. Northrop Grumman has commenced production of the first E-2D for the French Navy, with a planned delivery date of 2027. The French, who have contracted for three E-2Ds to replace their E-2C Hawkeye 2000s, are the only nation besides the United States to operate the Hawkeyes from an aircraft carrier, highlighting the importance of interoperability between the French and U.S. fleets.
In summary, Taiwan’s move to procure six E-2D Advanced Hawkeyes is a response to escalating regional tensions. The opportune timing, with ongoing production for Japan and France, could mean a more efficient acquisition process. This acquisition would give Taiwan a significant edge in AEW capability to address emerging threats and maintain a robust self-defence capability. Taiwan clearly hopes that this purchase will provide them with a generational upgrade in early warning, giving them an edge in an increasingly contested region.
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Are we on good terms with
France??
I thought I read or heard sum
Where about France aggression towards the U.S.A.
???
IDK.