Why did the Royal Navy want the E-2 Hawkeye if its crew accommodation seemed below British preferences?
Short answerBecause it provided the required carrier AEW capability, accommodated its four-person crew, and was more practical than a new British design.
NotesThe Hawkeye supplied the carrier-based airborne-early-warning function planned for the CVA-01 force. Buying an existing American design avoided developing a British replacement from scratch. The panel rejects the idea that crew comfort made the aircraft unsuitable, noting that four people could perform the mission and that contemporary Fleet Air Arm aircraft were hardly designed around spacious accommodation. Operational capability, deck compatibility, and procurement practicality mattered more than comfort.