The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Integrated Test Team (ITT) - composed of military, civil service and industry personnel from Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, prime contractor Northrop Grumman and other aerospace industry contractors - has received the Weapons Systems Award from the Order of Daedalians, an organization that has been dedicated to supporting military services and aerospace activities for more than 75 years.

The team has been conducting developmental testing on two System Development and Demonstration (SD and D) aircraft at Northrop Grumman's East Coast Manufacturing Center in St. Augustine, Fla., since April 2007. The two aircraft will soon transition to Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., to begin the aircraft carrier suitability phase of testing.

"With more than 1,000 hours of flight test completed since August 2007, the E-2D ITT has dedicated itself to working together to ensure the success of the SD and D program," said Jim Culmo, vice president of Airborne Early Warning and Battle Management Command Control Programs for Northrop Grumman's Aerospace Systems sector.

"The value of an integrated test team is the different perspectives and experience each team member brings. Through the dedication and hard work of this team, we are continuing to meet, or exceed, all major program and performance milestones."

For over 40 years, Northrop Grumman has provided the U.S. Navy with airborne early warning and control (AEW and C) capabilities. According to the Navy's Advanced Hawkeye program manager, Capt. Shane Gahagan, the completely redesigned systems and capabilities of the E-2D will provide the carrier group with expanded situational and battlespace awareness to support the warfighter on today's and tomorrow's missions.

"This has been the most challenging and rewarding project that I have ever had the privilege of working on," said Marty McCord, Contractor Flight Test director for Northrop Grumman.

"There can be nothing more satisfying than working through years of planning and moving into test and having the test aircrew come back and tell you that the E-2D is truly a 'Weapon System Operators' aircraft."

In addition to this award, the E-2D ITT has been recognized as a model Integrated Test Team by Vice Adm. David Architzel, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition).

The team has also received recognition as: the U.S. Navy's VX-20 Test Team of the Quarter (second quarter 2008), the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division Test Team of the Year, 2007 and the 2008 James S. McDonnell Test Team of the Year from the Society of Experimental Flight Test Engineers.

Membership in the Order of Daedalians consists of commissioned, warrant and flight officer military pilots and Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPS). The Daedalians Weapon Systems Award, as well as the accompanying Colonel Franklin C. Wolfe Memorial Trophy, is presented annually to individuals, groups or organizations (military or civilian) judged to have contributed the most outstanding weapons system development in the aerospace environment.

The trophy is named in honor of the late Colonel Franklin C. Wolfe, who served as Assistant Chief and then Chief of the Armament Laboratory of the Army Air Forces Materiel Command from 1939 until his retirement in 1944.