US Sells Surveillance Aircraft To Japan, Australia

The US is selling advanced electronic Surveillance Aircraft to Japan as part of the White house administration "Pivot to Asia" strategy to strengthen the military forces of the US allies.

Recently the US has increased the arms sales to the nations in the Asia Pacific region, The US Department Of Defense announced Thursday.

The sale approved by US department of defense worth $151.3 million. It was awarded to Northrop Grumman Systems by the US Air force for the procurement of E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft to Japan.

According to another contract that the US DoD announced the same day, Boeing has won a $101.6 million contract for two additional Poseidon P-8A surveillance aircraft, one for the US Navy and the other for Australia.

The Advanced Hawkeye is assigned aboard aircraft carriers and provides airborne early warning and command and control to carrier air wing. The E-2D can act as a sensor to guide the fleet's weapons onto targets that other aircraft and ships can not locate. Also it warns of incoming anti-ship missile attacks. This aircraft can also coordinate missions such as air warfare, strike warfare, surface warfare and search and rescue operations.

The Boeing P-8 Poseidon is the US Navy's next generation long-range maritime patrol, anti-submarine warfare, anti-shipping, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft. The P-8 is a militarized version of the Boeing 737-800 with 737-900-based wings. The fuselage is similar, but longer, than the 737-700-based C-40 Clipper transport aircraft in service with the US Navy.