Lockheed Martin Unveils DREXR Upgrade To Counter Evolving Threats On U.S. Navy E-2D Hawkeye

Lockheed Martin DREXR Upgrade Advances E-2D Hawkeye Capability

The Lockheed Martin DREXR upgrade has successfully completed flight testing on the U.S. Navy’s E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, marking an important step in keeping one of America’s most critical airborne early warning aircraft ready for future threats. The company announced the milestone on April 21, saying the program was completed in cooperation with Northrop Grumman.

The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye is the Navy’s carrier-based airborne surveillance and battle management aircraft. It provides long-range radar coverage, tracks hostile aircraft and missiles, and helps connect naval and joint forces across the battlespace.

The latest DREXR modernization effort focuses on upgrading core radar electronics rather than replacing the aircraft itself. That matters because the Hawkeye fleet remains central to U.S. carrier strike group operations, especially as potential adversaries field longer-range missiles, stealth aircraft, electronic warfare systems, and drone swarms.

What The DREXR Upgrade Changes

According to Lockheed Martin, DREXR, short for Digital Receiver Exciter Recorder, is a compact single-box system that replaces the current exciter and receiver subsystems aboard the aircraft.

During flight testing, the team validated:

• Wideband transmit and receive functions
• Independent transmit control for each radar element
• Software-defined waveform capability
• Integrated recording for mission analysis
• Data collection to support future AI-enabled capabilities

In practical terms, these upgrades should allow faster software changes, better signal processing, and improved adaptability against emerging threats.

That is increasingly important because modern radar competition is no longer only about range. It is also about how quickly a sensor can classify targets, reject jamming, and share data across multiple platforms.

Why The E-2D Hawkeye Still Matters

The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye is often overshadowed by fighter jets, but it is one of the most valuable aircraft on any carrier deck.

Its AN/APY-9 radar is designed to detect aircraft and cruise missiles at long range while supporting command-and-control functions. The platform also acts as a communications node linking ships, aircraft, and joint forces.

From an operational standpoint, fighters such as the F-35 can strike targets, but platforms like the Hawkeye help the fleet see first and react first.

That makes modernization programs like DREXR strategically significant. Improving sensing and battle management can increase the effectiveness of every other platform operating nearby.

Broader U.S. Navy Modernization Context

The DREXR milestone comes as the U.S. Navy and industry are also pursuing broader Block II modernization for the E-2D fleet, including cockpit, computing, and mission system upgrades.

This layered approach suggests the Navy intends to keep the Hawkeye relevant well into the next decade rather than rushing toward an entirely new replacement platform.

For Pentagon planners, that is a practical path. Incremental upgrades can deliver better performance faster and at lower risk than launching a clean-sheet aircraft program.

Analysis

The Lockheed Martin DREXR upgrade is more than a routine electronics refresh. It reflects a larger shift in military aviation where software speed, modular hardware, and sensor networking are becoming as important as airframe performance.

As maritime threats expand in the Indo-Pacific and other theaters, the side that detects first and coordinates faster gains a decisive edge. In that environment, the E-2D Hawkeye remains a high-value asset, and upgrades like DREXR help preserve that advantage.