File photo: E-2D Advanced Hawkeye AEW Aircraft

The first E-2D Advanced Hawkeye AEW Aircraft Japan ordered from the U.S. is to begin manufacture, thepaper.cn reported on January 21.

As the most advanced carrier-capable tactical aircraft in the Northrop Grumman E-2 series, E-2D is an all-weather, airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft. It will meet the Japanese Defense Ministry's requirements for a future airborne early warning platform.

The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded Northrop Grumman the contract for its planned foreign military sale of the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye to Japan at 285 million USD on January 5, 2016.

The E-2D Aircraft is part of a $1.7 billion Japan-U.S. deal inked in June, 2015, in which Japan is to acquire 4 E-2D aircrafts, 10 T56-A-427A engines, 4 AN/APY-9 radars, relevant spare parts, and also the maintenance services.

As the very first E-2D aircraft customer for the U.S., Japan will include one E-2D aircraft per year in its yearly budget in four consecutive years.