A further two Northrop Grumman E-2D Advanced Hawkeyes have been delivered by sea to Japan.
The two aircraft arrived on board the General Cargo ship, Ocean Gladiator, at the port adjacent to Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni in Japan’s Yamaguchi Prefecture on October 18. Their identities – including their serial numbers – remain unconfirmed, as the two airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft were completely shrink-wrapped for protection during the trans-Pacific sea voyage.
Upon their arrival, the two new Japanese E-2Ds were moved by road the short distance to MCAS Iwakuni, where they will be prepared for flights to Misawa Air Base (AB) – located in the northern part of the Japanese island of Honshū – where they will be operated by 601 Hikotai (Squadron). These two aircraft join three others – serials 01-3473; 01-3474 and 91-3471 – which have already been delivered to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF). In total, Japan has 13 E-2Ds on order; five of which are now operating in-country.
