Officially Licensed US Navy E-2 Hawkeye Leather Patch — The Eyes of the Fleet, on Your Flight Jacket
Nothing happens in the carrier air wing without the Hawkeye seeing it first. The E-2 is where the battle picture begins.
The Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye is the United States Navy's carrier-based airborne early warning and battle management aircraft — the eyes and ears of the carrier strike group that provides the radar surveillance, air intercept control, and battle management that every carrier operation depends on. The E-2 has been the Navy's primary airborne early warning platform since the 1960s, with successive variants — the E-2A, E-2B, E-2C, and now the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye — progressively upgrading the aircraft's radar, communications, and data fusion capabilities. The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye features the APY-9 radar with a mechanically rotating antenna and an electronically scanned array, giving it the ability to detect and track targets at ranges and in clutter environments that previous variants could not. The Hawkeye is the carrier air wing's command and control platform — the aircraft that coordinates the air defense, manages the strike package, and provides the situational awareness that allows the air wing commander to make tactical decisions. This leather patch represents the Hawkeye community — the pilots and naval flight officers who fly the 'Hummer' and run the air battle from 25,000 feet.
Perfect For: E-2 Hawkeye pilots and naval flight officers, VAW community members, carrier air wing personnel, and anyone who has flown or supported the Eyes of the Fleet.
