The Northrop E-2 Hawkeye is an all-weather airborne early warning aircraft (AEW). The E-2 was a twin-turboprop developed in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s for the USN. The E-2 is a carrier- capable aircraft and has received major upgrades in their electronics for the E-2B and E-2C with the E-2C also receiving improved turbo-prop engines. The E-2 has been in production since the 1960’s making it the longest production run of any carrier based aircraft. The E-2C variant became operational in 1973.
In 2007 VAW-116 Sun Kings were assigned to the USS Abraham Lincoln and stationed at NAS Norfolk. The squadron mascot is Elvis Presley and several of the aircraft bear the names of Elvis, Priscilla, Lisa Marie and Graceland. Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye 165817 was the CAG aircraft while with VAW-116 before transferring to VAW-115 Liberty Bells. VAW-115 took part in all the Mid-East conflicts from Operation Desert Shield to Inherent Resolve. VAW-115 E-2s completed the eight-bladed New Propeller 2000 system (NP2K) upgrade in March 2007.