US Navy's Hawkeye aloft.

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The US Navy's new and completely redesigned E-2D Advanced Hawkeye development aircraft took to the skies early August for its maiden flight and flew for just over one hour. The aircraft was commanded by a US Navy and a Northrop Grumman test pilot as well as Northrop's flight test lead weapon systems operator. The E-2D, which is designed to provide all-weather airborne early warning and command and control functions for a carrier battle group, will feature the new APY-9 radar in a newly designed rotodome which includes 360[degrees] coverage with an Active Electronically Scanned Array. A new glass cockpit, integrated satellite communication capabilities and advanced radar system workstations bring the systems up to the current state-of-the-art. The E-2D's initial operational capability is scheduled for 2011.