Aviation News – Lockheed Martin, in collaboration with Northrop Grumman, has successfully completed critical flight testing for the Digital Receiver Exciter Recorder (DREXR) upgrade on the U.S. Navy’s E-2D Advanced Hawkeye. This modernization effort significantly bolsters the Navy’s ability to detect and counter sophisticated threats within highly contested maritime environments.
The flight tests represent a major milestone in the ongoing evolution of the Carrier Strike Group’s primary airborne early warning platform. By integrating the DREXR system, the joint industry team has verified that the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye can maintain its edge in an increasingly complex global threat landscape. This development is part of a broader push by the U.S. military to digitize and enhance existing hardware through advanced software-defined solutions.
This upgrade project involved high-level coordination between the Navy and its industrial partners to ensure seamless integration with the aircraft’s existing AN/APY-9 radar. The successful validation of the hardware concludes a rigorous testing phase aimed at providing commanders with faster decision-making speed and superior situational awareness. The project also focused on the long-term sustainability of the fleet, ensuring these aircraft remain operationally relevant for decades to come.
Technically, the DREXR is a compact, single-box upgrade that replaces legacy receiver and exciter subsystems with a modern digital architecture. It introduces independent transmit capabilities per radar element and utilizes software-defined waveforms to adapt to various mission requirements on the fly. Furthermore, the integrated recorder captures high-fidelity radar data, which is essential for training future artificial intelligence algorithms and conducting deep mission analysis.
“By modernizing 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,” said Rick Cordaro, vice president of Lockheed Martin Radar and Sensor Systems.
The transition to digital radar processing ensures that the E-2D can be updated via software to meet future challenges without needing extensive physical overhauls. Defense officials and industry partners are now looking toward full-scale deployment to ensure the entire fleet is equipped with these next-generation radar capabilities.
The DREXR upgrade solidifies the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye’s position as the “quarterback of the fleet.” By enhancing detection ranges and data processing, the U.S. Navy secures a decisive operational advantage in the air and at sea. This modernization ensures that the Carrier Strike Group remains protected by the most advanced airborne early warning technology available.
