Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 4:06:02-4:07:52

Why airborne early warning may become uncrewed

Future carrier surveillance may separate the emitting radar aircraft from command-and-control functions carried elsewhere.

Airborne Early WarningCrow’s NestE-2 HawkeyeQueen Elizabeth Class Aircraft CarriersUncrewed Aircraft
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Question

Will the E-2 Hawkeye eventually be replaced by a jet or turboprop aircraft?

Short answer

Probably by an uncrewed platform, with sensing separated from command and control rather than by a simple crewed jet-for-turboprop replacement.

Notes

Airborne early-warning platforms are valuable precisely because they broadcast powerful emissions. Those emissions also make a Hawkeye or Crowsnest helicopter a conspicuous and high-value target. An uncrewed aircraft could carry the exposed sensor while command functions move to another platform or back to the carrier. Resilient communications would let the fleet preserve human decision-makers without giving up the altitude and reach of airborne radar.