Editing Grumman E-2 Hawkeye (section)

====Japan====
On 6 September 1976, Soviet Air Forces pilot [[Viktor Belenko]] successfully [[Defection of Viktor Belenko|defected]], landing his [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25|MiG-25 'Foxbat']] at [[Hakodate Airport]], Japan. During this incident, the Japan Self-Defense Forces' (JASDF) radar lost track of the aircraft when Belenko flew his MiG-25 at a low altitude, prompting the JASDF to consider procurement of airborne early warning aircraft.

Initially, the [[E-3 Sentry]] airborne warning and control system aircraft was considered to be the prime candidate for the airborne early warning mission by the JASDF. However, the Japanese Defense Agency realized that the E-3 would not be readily available due to USAF needs and opted to procure E-2 Hawkeye aircraft. The [[Japan Air Self-Defense Force]] bought thirteen E-2C aircraft to improve its early warning capabilities. The E-2C was put into service with the Airborne Early Warning Group (AEWG) at [[Misawa Air Base]] in January 1987.

On 21 November 2014, the [[Ministry of Defense (Japan)|Japanese Ministry of Defense]] officially decided to procure the E-2D version of the Hawkeye, instead of the [[Boeing 737 AEW&C]] design.<ref>[http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/international/asia-pacific/2014/11/21/japan-officially-selects-osprey/19343099/ Japan Officially Selects Osprey, Global Hawk, E-2D] – Defensenews.com, 21 November 2014</ref>  In June 2015, the Japanese government requested to buy four E-2Ds through a Foreign Military Sale.<ref>[http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/japan-raises-e-2d-acquisition-to-four-aircraft-413008/ Japan raises E-2D acquisition to four aircraft] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150602231301/http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/japan-raises-e-2d-acquisition-to-four-aircraft-413008/ |date=June 2, 2015}} – Flightglobal.com, 2 June 2015</ref>

In September 2018 the [[Defense Security Cooperation Agency]] (DSCA) notified Congress of the possible sale of up to nine E-2Ds to Japan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dsca.mil/major-arms-sales/japan-e-2d-advanced-hawkeye-airborne-early-warning-and-control-aircraft-0|title=Japan – E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Airborne Early Warning and Control Aircraft|publisher=Defense Security Cooperation Agency|date=10 September 2018|access-date=24 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180924145233/http://www.dsca.mil/major-arms-sales/japan-e-2d-advanced-hawkeye-airborne-early-warning-and-control-aircraft-0|archive-date=September 24, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

A sale of up to five E-2Ds for JASDF was approved by the U.S. State Department and DSCA notified Congress on 7 March 2023.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://navyrecognition.com/index.php/naval-news/naval-news-archive/2023/march/12900-us-gov-approves-sale-to-japan-of-e-2d-advanced-hawkeye-aircraft.html | title=US Gov approves sale to Japan of E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft | date=March 8, 2023 }}</ref> The sale includes ancillary equipment, spares and training support for an estimated $1.38 billion. The proposed five E-2Ds are in addition to the six E-2Ds Japan already has and the seven more it has on order. However, the Japanese Ministry of Defense did not reveal in its most recent proposed budget any intention to acquire more aircraft.<ref name="awst.chuanren.e2d.2023.03.08">{{Cite magazine |magazine=[[Aviation Week & Space Technology]] |url=https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/aircraft-propulsion/japan-seeking-more-e-2d-hawkeyes |title=Japan Seeking More E-2D Hawkeyes |last1=Chuanren |first1=Chen |date=8 March 2023}}</ref>