US likely sending additional E-2D surveillance aircraft to Middle East

The U.S. is rapidly deploying additional E-2D Advanced Hawkeye surveillance aircraft to the Middle East in response to escalating Iranian drone and missile threats targeting Gulf states and critical maritime routes. At least five E-2Ds, typically carrier-based airborne early warning and control platforms, were tracked crossing the Atlantic and stopping at Lajes Field in the Azores, a key transit hub for U.S. military flights. This deployment, supported by KC-46 Pegasus aerial refueling tankers, signals a shift in aerial surveillance priorities amid the unpredictable conflict dynamics in the region, particularly under Operation Epic Fury. The E-2D's advanced AN/APY-9 AESA radar system enables superior detection of low-flying, slow-moving threats like kamikaze drones and sea-skimming cruise missiles, which are challenging for older systems such as the Air Force’s aging E-3 Sentry fleet. Beyond radar capabilities, the E-2D serves as a vital node in network-centric warfare, linking targeting