Northrop begins work on second Japanese E-2D Hawkeye

FALLS CHURCH, Va., Aug. 4 (UPI) -- Northrop Grumman has received a U.S. Navy contract to produce a second E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft for Japan, the company announced Wednesday.

The first Japanese E-2D airborne early warning and surveillance aircraft will be delivered in 2018, the company said in a statement.

The second aircraft will be produced at Northrop's Aircraft Integration Center of Excellence in Florida.

It will be manufactured on the same multi-year production line used for U.S. aircraft, allowing for a more efficient and affordable delivery schedule, the company said.

The Japanese Ministry of Defense chose the E-2D in 2014 to fulfill its airborne early warning needs.

Japan's air self-defense force has used the E-2C Hawkeye since 1983, an aircraft also in use by Taiwan, France and Egypt.