WASHINGTON — The Navy's fleet of 62 multi-mission E-2D Advanced Hawkeye airborne early warning, command, control, and surveillance aircraft faces new scrutiny, following the publication of a concerning report from the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General.
The document says the planes have operational deficiencies that the Navy has not adequately attempted to resolve.
The OIG identified over 200 deficiencies found during operational tests for software and hardware modifications to the Advanced Hawkeye, of which 141 were unresolved.
Thirty of the deficiencies were determined to have "critical impact on mission accomplishment."
The audit, published last week, says the Navy "has consistently reported reliability issues with the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye radar and the inability...to keep the aircraft maintained and available."
According to the OIG, the deficiencies were not addressed because the Navy did not track them and did not develop plans to evaluate and correct them.
House Armed Services Committee Vice Chair Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Virginia) isn't happy.
In a statement to 13 News Now, he said: "It is always incumbent upon the Navy to resolve deficiencies within any of its programs. I am deeply disappointed and concerned by the Navy's inaction regarding the E-2D. The airborne early warning command, control, and surveillance capabilities delivered by the E-2D are crucial for the U.S. military around the world -- particularly in the Indo-Pacific. I strongly urge the Navy to implement the recommendations outlined in the Inspector General's report."