Integration of global positioning system in the E-2C Hawkeye and the affect on weapons system accuracy

The Grumman E-2C Hawkeye is an all weather carrier and shore based airborne early warning (AEW) and control aircraft that patrols tasks force defense perimeters. It provides early warning of approaching enemy aircraft and vectors interceptors into attack position. In addition to this primary AEW function, the Hawkeye can also provide strike and air traffic control, area surveillance, search and rescue guidance, navigational assistance, and communication relay. The integrated functions of the E-2C's navigation system provide aircraft navigation and guidance capabilities, plus reference information to the associated avionics systems for stabilization and orientation. The primary navigation system has known drift rates overtime where the navigational errors become large. The positional errors become five times larger in the final stage of a five hour flight. As new systems are integrated in the airplane, the E-2C weapons system must provide realtime positional data information to the operators and over command and control data networks. Therefore, there is a need for the navigation system to be continuously updated. The solution is to integrate the Global Position System as the primary navigation system. This thesis covers the history, policy, operation, installation, and benefits of incorporating GPS in the E-2C Hawkeye.