The E-2 Hawkeye is the Navy’s long time aerial battle
management and situational awareness asset for carrier groups. The Hawkeye typically operates offset from
the carrier and many miles away so as not to give away the carrier’s
location. The problem with the Hawkeye is
that it is no longer survivable. Chinese
and Russian Very Long Range Air to Air Missiles (VLRAAM) are now in service
that can reach a large, slow, non-stealthy target like a Hawkeye from two
hundred or more miles away (see, “Goodbye Poseidon and Hawkeye”). The Hawkeye’s lack of speed, stealth, and
maneuverability all but guarantee that, if targeted, the Hawkeye will be
destroyed. Even the mere threat of
VLRAAMs means that the Hawkeyes will have to operate much farther back than
previously. Situational awareness will
be greatly reduced and aerial battle management will be rendered much less
effective due to simply being unable to see the battle from so much further
back.
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| E-2 Hawkeye |
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| Chinese VLRAAM |
So, what’s a battle management/situational awareness aircraft designer to do?
Enter the B-1/2/21 …
The B-1/2/21 bombers were designed as stealthy, fast,
penetrating aircraft. The B-2, in
particular, was, apparently, originally designed as a high altitude,
penetrating bomber, with a ceiling of 60,000 ft. Operational requirement changes for a low
level penetrating capability implemented late in the design process are claimed
to have reduced the B-2’s ceiling to under 50,000 ft. (1) The Drive website’s Tyler Rogoway speculates
that the B-21 will return to a high altitude bomber. (1)
If we’re willing to consider a radical change in operational
methodology regarding how we perform aerial battle management and situational
awareness, we can immediately see the possibility of a new approach using
large, fast, high flying, stealthy ‘bombers’.
For the moment, let’s focus on the B-21 since it’s the only
one that could currently be built although existing aircraft could be modified. However, given the limited numbers of
existing bombers, that would seem unlikely.
We’ve noted that the requirement for a giant radar on the
back of the aircraft precludes stealth, speed, and maneuverability. Why do we need such a large radar? We need it to provide the power, sensitivity,
and performance necessary to operate hundreds of miles from the actual aerial
battlefield which is a necessary requirement to ensure the survivability of the
Hawkeye, given its non-survivable characteristics. However, think about it … what if we didn’t
have to stand a hundred-plus miles off from the battlefield? What if we could stand essentially in, or on
top of, the battlefield? If we could, we
wouldn’t need such a large radar. We
could get by with a much smaller one.
Well, that’s exactly what a B-21 would give us: a high flying, stealthy, fast, survivable
aircraft that could bring a much smaller radar much closer to the battlefield –
essentially, on or in the battlefield.
The B-21 ‘Hawkeye’ would be mixed into the battlefield and,
using a low probability of intercept AESA radar combined with its inherent
stealth, could monitor and control the battle up close. With Mach+ sprint speed to escape and evade
when threatened, the aircraft’s survivability is further enhanced.
Of course, the entire concept comes down to whether or not a
sufficiently capable radar exists, or could be developed, that could fit
internally on the B-21. If it could, the
concept is viable. If not, ignore this
post!
There is one other requirement for a B-21 ‘Hawkeye’ and that
is a large crew. With all due respect
(none) to the people who suggest that the F-35 will perform battle management,
that’s just nonsense. True battle
management, not just guiding a single missile that someone else launched,
requires computers, displays, and manpower.
Fortunately, a suitably modified B-21 would have ample room for a battle
management crew. I note that the preceding
sentence may not be accurate given the B-21’s flattened airframe. If sufficient space for crew and work
stations can’t be fit into the B-21 then it would be necessary to design a
somewhat modified aircraft though still along the same lines we’ve been
discussing. That’s an engineering issue
and without detailed B-21 blueprints none of us are qualified to assess
it. We’ll stick to the conceptual design
and leave the physical design to the designers.
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| B-21 'Hawkeye' ? |
If the concept appears viable, it would be easy for the Navy
to tap into the upcoming production of the B-21 and purchase a number of
aircraft for conversion to a ‘Hawkeye’ variant.
Taking the concept a step further, it would also be an opportune moment
to design a ‘Hawkeye’ variant based on the B-21 but incorporating more
extensive, specific modifications intended to enhance mission performance such
as greater altitude, increased internal space (if needed), enhanced bottom aspect
stealth, enhanced self-defense electronics, greater sprint speed, etc. Of course, this would drastically drive up
the cost of what will, undoubtedly, be an already expensive airframe but the
capability offered would justify the cost.
Effective battle management and situational awareness is a force
multiplier of priceless value.
One final aspect to consider is that a B-21 ‘Hawkeye’
doesn’t need to be a carrier based aircraft and, likely, wouldn’t be. Given the 6,900 mile range of a current B-2,
a B-21 ‘Hawkeye’ could easily be land based and cycle to carrier/naval
operations, as needed. Carriers could,
in fact, maintain on-board E-2 Hawkeyes for routine operations and call on B-21
‘Hawkeyes’ when necessary although this may be an overly costly redundancy.
In summary, if we’re willing to adopt a completely different
approach to situational awareness and battle space management, a B-21 ‘Hawkeye’
may be the answer to the carrier’s current E-2 vulnerabilities while still accomplishing
the function. With upcoming B-21
production run, the Navy has an opportunity to acquire some very advanced capabilities
without having to pay for the basic airframe development costs although the ‘Hawkeye’
modifications would still be significant.
(1)The Drive website, “The B-21’s Three Decade Old Shape
Hints At New High Altitude Capabilities”, Tyler Rogoway, 6-Oct-2017,
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/14919/the-b-21s-three-decade-old-shape-hints-at-new-high-altitude-capabilities