NAVAIR, for the first time, has demonstrated the Navy’s premier command-and-control aircraft's potential to refuel and stay in action longer.

During flight tests in December and early January, the Hawkeye program (PMA-231) fitted an E-2C with a refueling test probe and successfully connected to tanker aircraft over the skies of Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Md. Test and evaluation squadron VX-20 conducted the simulations using the Navy's KC-130 and newest tanker aircraft, the F/A-18E Super Hornet.

VX-20’s testing event marks the first time that a Navy E-2 demonstrated plugging to the basket. The E-2 aircraft sported a test probe - half of the refueling probe and drogue (basket) system used on a variety of Navy tactical aircraft today.

“Joint commanders rely heavily upon the E-2 for command-and-control operations during in-theatre missions. Refueling increases the E-2’s endurance and broadens its presence,” said Capt. Randy Mahr, PMA-231 Program Manager.

“By examining the E-2’s role in the Global War on Terrorism as well as here at home in support of Katrina relief, we know the benefits could be of great significance.”

“In situations where there is a NEED to be there, it is always better to be able to STAY there,” said E-2 pilot Lt. Cmdr. Hugh Winkel.

Program engineer Chris Gay said if the Navy formalizes a refueling program for the E-2, more follow-on testing will include evaluating the performance during unusual or difficult operations.

“These tests would be performed in less-than-ideal weather conditions and mission scenarios with a variety of tanker aircraft,” said Jason Brys, another program engineer.

During testing, the aircraft plugged into the basket without actually refueling, to evaluate flying qualities, noise, field of view and basket movement during the normal process of transferring fuel. The team made 16 successful connections with a KC-130 Dec. 19 and connected with a Super Hornet from Patuxent River test and evaluation squadron VX-23 in a flight lasting just over an hour Jan. 5.

The program will evaluate testing results to determine whether it is beneficial to create a full testing program.

The program looks to E-2 aviators when evaluating mission aircrew requirements. If implemented, the new refueling capability will appear first on the fleet’s E-2C Hawkeye 2000 variant. The E-2D would receive the probe as a retrofit following the Advanced Hawkeye’s initial production, which is currently underway at Northrop Grumman’s St. Augustine, Fla. plant.

Refueling has been a concept circulating in the E-2 community for some time, including previous tests executed with limited instrumentation and without using a probe. Test goals were achieved by simulating the refueling pre-contact position behind the basket with no temperature rise to the aircraft. This was a precursor to current testing in which crews used an E-2 equipped with testing instrumentation. During the recent flights, the team attached photo markers to the E-2 structure to help photographically measure aircraft position while recording temperatures and pressures and other test indicators of interest to the team.

“This success is part of our team’s continuing contribution to the Navy-wide goal of delivering the right force, with the right readiness, and at the right cost,” said Rear Adm. David Venlet, Program Executive Officer for Tactical Aircraft Programs. Venlet oversees the efforts of PMA 231. “You’ll see much more of this as the Naval Aviation Enterprise continues to streamline development and procurement of the systems we send forward to our fleet warfighters.”

FMI: www.navair.mil