Poland to get E-2D Superior Hawkeyes to Deal with the AEW Necessities?
Sooner or later after the information that Boeing is pitching the F-15EX to the Polish Air Power, some extra emerges from MSPO Worldwide Defence Trade Exhibition in Kielce, Poland.
In reality, because the ZBiAM outlet reports, Northrop Grumman representatives introduced new successes concerning their E-2D Hawkeye within the export division. Apparently, the US-based firm is pointing to Poland as a possible export buyer.
The E-2 is thought for its function within the US Navy carrier-borne aviation. As ZBiAM factors out, Northrop Grumman signed three export offers concerning that plane, 2 with Japan (13 examples), and one with France (3 examples). Then Japan procured 18 plane, growing the order, following related State Division authorization in March 2023.
Northrop Grumman introduced at MSPO in Kielce that the group of potential export prospects now additionally contains Poland.
This can be associated to the truth that again in July Poland procured two second-hand Saab 340 AEW platforms from Sweden, however these plane come from the Swedish Air Power’s stock and thus they’d provide only a few years of lifetime.
The contract with Saab is valued at SEK 600 million (52 million Euro). It contains floor tools, in-country logistics, and help companies. The 340 makes use of the Erieye AEW/AEW&C system with AESA radar. Procuring these was executed as a response to an pressing operational requirement. The Swedes can be changing the Saab 340s with two Bombardier World 6000 GlobalEyes – the primary one was delivered to Sweden on Jul. 19. 2023.
The Polish Saab 340s can be anticipated solely to be operated for just a few years (as a gap-filler answer). At MSPO, Northrop Grumman’s representatives introduced that the Polish MoD began talks with the US-based protection firm, and with the US authorities. The E-2 would supply the Polish Air Power with a significant enhancement of the department’s early warning functionality.
When contemplating the potential gaps within the Polish Air Power, many analysts level to the shortage of air-to-air refuelling functionality. This might have been addressed fairly simply, if Poland had not resigned from its participation within the European shared MRF (Multination MRTT fleet). Second matter often introduced up is the hole concerning the AEW platforms. The latter can be crammed partially by the F-35s and their sensor suite. Nevertheless, Poland wants these platforms urgently, given what is going on past its japanese border. Secondly, it’s extra cheap to make use of a platform with a better loiter time than the F-35, for this particular mission set.
Standing contributor for TheAviationist. Aviation photojournalist. Co-Founding father of DefensePhoto.com. Knowledgeable in linguistics, Chilly Conflict discourse, Chilly Conflict historical past and coverage and media communications.
