US State Department clears sale of E-2C Hawkeye sustainment items and services for French Navy.

The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency on June 13 announced that the State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of France of E-2C Hawkeye sustainment items and services for an estimated cost of $160 million.

Follow Air Recognition on Google News at this link

The French Naval Aviation (Aéronavale) operates three E-2C Hawkeye 2000s and has been the only operator of the E-2 Hawkeye from an aircraft carrier besides the U.S. Navy (Picture source: French Navy)

The Government of France has requested to buy additional non-MDE Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye sustainment items and services that will be added to a previously implemented case. The original FMS case, valued at $99.6 million, included E-2C Hawkeye sustainment support. Therefore, this notification is for E-2C Hawkeye sustainment support, to include an Engine Component Improvement Program (CIP); software updates; technical publications; U.S. Government, and contractor technical/product support/assistance; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total cost is $160 million.

The principal U.S. contractor will be Northrop Grumman, Melbourne, FL. Implementation of the proposed sale will require occasional government personnel to visit France on a temporary basis and one contractor personnel permanently assigned in France in conjunction with program technical oversight and support requirements, including program and technical reviews, as well as to provide training and maintenance support.

The French Naval Aviation (Aéronavale) operates three E-2C Hawkeye 2000's and has been the only operator of the E-2 Hawkeye from an aircraft carrier besides the U.S. Navy. The French nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, Charles de Gaulle, currently carries two E-2C Hawkeyes on her combat patrols offshore. The third French E-2C Hawkeye has been upgraded with eight-bladed propellers as part of the NP2000 program. In April 2007, France requested the purchase of an additional aircraft.

The Flottille 4F of the French Navy's Aeronavale was stood up on 2 July 2000 and flies its E-2C Hawkeyes from its naval air station at Lann-Bihoue, deploying to the Charles de Gaulle. They took part in operations in Afghanistan and Libya.

In September 2019 Florence Parly, French Minister of the Armed Forces, announced that three new E-2D Advanced Hawkeyes would be purchased in 2020 to replace the E-2Cs in service.