CPI Aerostructures has been awarded a contract by Northrop Grumman for the delivery of outer wing panel (OWP) kits, used in the production of entire wings, for the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye and the C-2A Greyhound aircraft.
The latest $86.1m contract consists of approximately $63.6m in newly funded backlog and around $22.5m in requirements released to CPI Aero last year.
CPI Aero has been manufacturing OWP kits for both aircraft, which share a familiar wing design, since June 2008.
The latest deal comes in the wake of a $3.6bn US Navy contract awarded to Northrop for the production of 25 full-rate production E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft, which are the navy’s chief airborne early warning and battle management command and control platform.
To date, Northrop has delivered 15 of the 75 aircraft under the navy’s E-2D Advanced Hawkeye programme, with all deliveries set for completion by 2021.
The C-2A Greyhound aircraft are mainly aimed at carrying high-priority cargo, critical aircraft parts, mail and passengers to deployed Carrier Strike Groups.
As part of the latest contract, which finishes in late 2020, Northrop will build new wings for the C-2A Greyhound aircraft to replace the service life limited element.
Last month, the US Navy’s E-2D Hawkeye aircraft attained initial operational capability (IOC), which makes it eligible for active mission deployments.
The aircraft can be used to perform airborne strikes, land force support and rescue operations.
Image: Northrop’s E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft for the US Navy. Photo: courtesy of the Northrop Grumman Corp.
