The Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye is a carrier-based airborne early warning and command-and-control aircraft designed to serve as the eyes and ears of a naval task force. Entering U.S. Navy service in the 1960s, the twin-engine turboprop is instantly recognizable by the large rotating radar dome mounted above its fuselage. From high above a carrier group, the Hawkeye’s powerful radar allows its crew to detect and track aircraft and other potential threats at great distances, while coordinating fighter aircraft and helping manage complex air operations. Designed specifically for aircraft carrier service, the E-2 features folding wings, an arresting hook, and rugged landing gear for catapult launches and arrested landings at sea. Continually upgraded through several generations, the Hawkeye has served the Navy for more than six decades and remains an essential part of modern carrier aviation, providing the surveillance, communication, and coordination needed to safely and effectively control the skies around a carrier strike group.