US to sell $1.4B airborne early warning aircraft to Japan

Amid growing tensions with North Korea and Russia, Japan has requested the US to buy up to five E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Airborne Early Warning and Control Aircraft AEW&C), Report informs referring to Defense Mirror.

The US State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Japan of E-2D Advanced Hawkeye (AHE) Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) Aircraft and related equipment for an estimated cost of $1.381 billion.

Frequent missile launches by North Korea and disputed claim with Russia over the Kuril Islands has increased Japan's focus on its military in recent years.

Besides the aircraft and major equipment, the proposed sale includes Embedded Airborne Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module or M-Code Receiver and six ALQ-217 Electronic Support Measures Systems.

The proposed sale will improve Japan’s ability to effectively provide homeland defense utilizing an AEW&C capability. Japan will use the E-2D AHE aircraft to provide AEW&C situational awareness of air and naval activity in the Pacific region and to augment its existing E-2C Hawkeye AEW&C fleet.

The principal contractor will be Northrop Grumman Corporation Aerospace Systems, Melbourne, FL. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.