VAW-115 prepares for Group II transition

In an age of rapid technological development, it's often difficult to keep up with the cutting edge. The Liberty Bells of VAW-115 are about to take a giant step toward the future of Airborne Early Warning and Command and Control when they receive four E-2C Group II aircrafts this summer.

Currently operating with the oldest E-2C Hawkeyes in the fleet, the Liberty Bells have already begun the complex transition to the new aircraft. The ultimate goal of the transition is to turn a fully combat ready E-2C Group 0 squadron into a fully mission capable E-2C Group II squadron without any lapse in proficiency or combat readiness.

This is quite a challenge considering the major advancements incorporated into the E-2C Group II aircraft and the fact that the normal time required to transition a squadron takes five weeks.

What makes the transition even more unique is the fact that never before has a Navy squadron transitioned to a new aircraft overnight. Furthermore, VAW-115 is doing it, not only in the midst of major fleet operations, but also in the midst of a carrier turnover.

Technologically speaking, the E-2C Group II Hawkeyes contain advancements in every major system in the aircraft, especially those involving its radar capabilities.

The new radar provides fully automatic system optimization for continuous over-land and over-water tracking, and has an increased detection volume. This allows the Group II Hawkeye to easily detect and track small tactical aircraft where the older Hawkeyes could not.

Other improvements include an enhanced detection and tracking system, a high-speed multi-processor, and the addition of improved secure anti-jam voice and data communications.

"Multi-colored displays and the geographical map loads allow for increased situational awareness for the aircrew," Lt. Cello Caceres, who has flown the new Hawkeye explained. "This aids not only us but the entire Air Wing."

For the pilots, the new Hawkeye includes more powerful engines and an upgraded navigation package, including a Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation system. Also updated, the cockpit sports LED engine tape gauges and digital readouts, a significant improvement over the analog instruments currently in operation.

Of all these improvements, the most significant is the replacement of the aging Allison turboprop engines with newer, more powerful ones. This added power along with greater efficiency allows for longer missions, increased range and altitude capabilities, and provides a greater margin of safety in the event of an engine failure.

Managing all of the system changes along with the requirement to complete the transition during the turnover between USS Independence and USS Kitty Hawk in Hawaii, the Liberty Bells face a very complex problem.

While this may seem overwhelming to some, the Liberty Bells have been preparing in advance.

"We have already begun to send our aircrew back to the Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) in Norfolk, Va. to learn to operate the new system," Lt. Cmdr. Bud Tullus, VAW-115’s operations officer said, "this new airplane is not something we can learn without the proper training."

The differences between the aircraft operated now and the Group II are considerable enough to warrant a modified training syllabus at the Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) which takes approximately five weeks to complete. Trying to rotate aircrew out of an extended deployment in the Arabian Gulf in order to receive the training is a scheduling dilemma.

"We can’t afford to leave ourselves short-handed during our current mission, but we have to budget our assets in order to be ready for this summer," Lt. Greg Storm, VAW-115’s schedules officer said.

Mission effectiveness is ultimately the bottom line in any operational fleet squadron and the Liberty Bells will be juggling several operational commitments associated with the transition to the new aircraft. Combined with the fact that ‘The Bells’ will be doing it during RIMPAC and during a carrier swap makes for an extra challenge.

With the additional capabilities of the E-2C Group II Hawkeye, the ‘Bells’ will fly the cutting edge of Carrier Airborne Early Warning and Command and Control well into the next century.

Caption: VAW-115’s aging E-2C Group 0 will be replaced this summer by the new Group II. (PHOTO BY Lt. Mike Kibler)