DREXR Upgrade Strengthens E-2D Advanced Hawkeye

• The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye is the world’s most proven airborne early warning and battle management platform
• DREXR is a compact, single-box upgrade, replacing the current Exciter and Receiver subsystems
• The successful tests strengthen the Navy’s ability to detect, track and counter evolving threats in contested and austere environments,

Lockheed Martin, in collaboration with Northrop Grumman, has successfully completed flight testing of the Digital Receiver Exciter Recorder (DREXR) upgrade for the U.S. Navy’s E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft.

The successful tests strengthen the Navy’s ability to detect, track and counter evolving threats in contested and austere environments, reinforcing the E-2D’s critical role in defending the Carrier Strike Group. The upgrade enhances commanders’ situational awareness and decision-making speed, providing a decisive operational advantage across the battlespace.

“The successful DREXR flight tests demonstrate our commitment to keeping the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye at the forefront of airborne early warning and battle management,” said Rick Cordaro, vice president of Lockheed Martin Radar and Sensor Systems. “By modernising this proven platform, we are ensuring it remains a critical enabler for force protection, command and control, and mission success in today’s increasingly complex threat environment.”

DREXR is a compact, single-box upgrade, replacing the current Exciter and Receiver subsystems, that delivers next-generation radar performance while extending the operational life of the Navy’s premier airborne early warning platform. During flight testing, the joint industry team validated key capabilities, including wideband transmit and receive, independent transmit per radar element, and software-defined waveform functionality. The team also collected critical radar data through the integrated recorder to support mission analysis and ongoing advanced capability development, including artificial intelligence.

About the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye

The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye is the world’s most proven airborne early warning and battle management platform, connecting air, sea and joint forces into a single operational network. Its APY-9 radar, mission computer and integrated sensor suite enable multi-domain, multi-mission operations from both land and sea. Continuous modernisation ensures the platform delivers day-one interoperability, operational resilience, and sustained mission readiness to deter and defeat advanced threats.