France Finalizes Purchase of 3 E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Aircraft

France will begin upgrading its E-2C Hawkeye fleet with the purchase of three E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, paving the way to a more capable carrier aviation fleet that’s more interoperable with the U.S. Navy. Naval Air Systems Command announced this week that France became the second foreign customer for the E-2D when it signed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance last month to procure three E-2Ds from the U.S. Navy, for a maximum value of $2 billion. The U.S. State Department cleared the sale in July, paving the way for France’s final decision in December. “The E-2/C-2 program office is looking forward…