NAVAIR and Epps Aviation of Atlanta, Ga. have successfully completed the first full-rate production installation of the new AN/ASQ-237 navigation system for the Navy’s E-2C Hawkeye fleet. The AN/ASQ-237 incorporates the GNS-530, a commercial aviation panel-mounted avionics suite, manufactured by Garmin International of Olathe, Kan.

The system brings dual utility to the Hawkeye cockpit by simultaneously satisfying communication, navigation and surveillance, and air traffic management enhanced display requirements, and providing civilian Instrument Landing System precision approach capability to the E-2C.

The reserve E-2C fleet requires ILS for counter-narcotic operations in the Special Operations Command area of responsibility, while the active-duty E-2C fleet requires ILS to address critical lessons learned during operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

The heart of the AN/ASQ-237 is the GNS-530 navigation system. The instrument-flight-rules-certified GNS-530 incorporates a TSO-129a GPS receiver, 8.33 kHz spacing FM-immune VHF radio, VHF omni-directional radio-range (VOR), ILS and a color moving map. A huge IFR database can be updated with a front-loading data card containing all airports, navigation aids, flight service stations, approaches, departures and other airport/en-route information.

The GNS-530's 5-inch display, easily read from wide viewing angles even in direct sunlight, makes the pilot-critical information easily accessible to both E-2 pilots. E-2 aircrew enjoy enhanced situational awareness by seeing their position relative to cities, highways, railroads, rivers, lakes, and coastlines.

Additionally, the appropriate use of color separates land data, terminal areas, route, and approach information for easy pilot scanning and reduced workload. As part of the AN/ASQ-237, E-2 aircrew also utilize the GNS-530 as a multi-function display to display WX-500 Stormscope information.

The GNS-530 also offers growth paths for additional functionality such as terrain awareness and Wide Area Augmentation System.

Two E-2 aircraft have been prototyped with the system. The first, based in Atlanta, Ga., with the Night Wolves of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron Seventy-seven (VAW-77), one of two E-2 Reserve squadrons, demonstrated that the GNS-530 could be successfully installed quickly and cost-efficiently.

The second prototype, representative of Group II aircraft in the fleet, was based in Norfolk, Va., with the Greyhawks of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron One Hundred Twenty (VAW-120). This aircraft was selected for carrier suitability tests with the system at Pax River, where testing verified its ability to withstand the rigors of operating in a carrier environment.

Developmental testing on the system found no significant deficiencies and in fact demonstrated several enhancing characteristics, program officials said. These two proof-of-concept installations proved so successful that both prototyped aircraft are still presently utilizing the system. The AN/ASQ-237 systems installed in the E-2 have logged 1,720 failure-free flight hours to date, demonstrating the reliability and operations-and-sustainment cost-reduction benefits of commercial technology.

The AN/ASQ-237 Garmin upgrade is managed by the NAVAIR’s E-2/C-2 program office, PMA-231. Funding is provided by PMA-231 and the program office for Air Combat Electronics, PMA-209, as well as by Commander Naval Reserve Force. All E-2C Group II, Group II Navigation Upgrade/Mission Computer Upgrade, and Hawkeye 2000 aircraft will be modified by FY11.