Northrop Grumman (Grumman) C-2A
Greyhound
Date Posted: 19-Feb-2018
Publication: Jane's Aircraft Upgrades
UPDATED
Contents
Type
Programme
Upgrades
US Navy:
Operators
Design features
Landing gear
Power plant
Accommodation
Systems
Avionics
Aircraft manufacturer
Type
Carrier onboard delivery (COD) transport aircraft.
Programme
Northrop Grumman (Grumman) originally delivered 19 C-2A Greyhounds to the US Navy during
the 1960s to fulfil the Carrier Onboard Delivery (COD) role. Many of these aircraft underwent a
Service Life Extension Programme (SLEP) before being replaced by 39 new C-2As. Production of
this second series of C-2As for the US Navy was authorised in February 1982, with 39 funded
under a multi-year contract signed in early 1983, in annual batches of 8, 6, 8, 8, and 9
respectively. The first new-production C-2A flew on 4 February 1985, Last aircraft was delivered in
February 1990. The last of the original C-2A Greyhounds were retired from service during 1987.
Newly manufactured Greyhounds featured uprated engines and avionics, improved anti-corrosion
protection and increased passenger comfort. They also introduced a new APU to reduce the need
for ground support equipment and provide self-sufficiency for operation at remote locations.
In 2015 US Navy selected CMV-22 Osprey as C-2 COD replacement. Delivery of the first
CMV-22Bs is expected to take place in 2020.
Upgrades
US Navy:
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information contained herein is from sources considered reliable but its accuracy and completeness are not warranted, nor are the
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Page 1 of 5
Current fleet of 35 C-2A Greyhounds has undergone a Service Life Extension Program (SLEP).
The aircraft had originally been designed for a service life that included 15,020 carrier landings
and 10,000 flight hours. C-2A (BuNo 162169) was first to be equipped with structural modifications
that will allow the type to operate for up to 36,000 landings and 15,000 flight hours. SLEP involved
removal of the centre wing box to extend the working life of the airframe. At the same time, the
aircraft was completely rewired to replace Kapton wiring. The US Navy marked the completion of
the first C-2A to be completely rewired on 14 December 2005. By 2011 the entire fleet, had
completed the SLEP and rewiring allowing the aircraft to remain in the inventory until 2026.
In addition to the structural upgrades they also received updated avionics and eight-bladed
Hamilton Sundstrand NP2000 propellers. New partial glass cockpit layout retrofitted as part of
Communication, Navigation, Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) effort. This features
dual ARC-210 radios, the AN/ASN-139 CAINS II (Carrier Aircraft Inertial Navigation System) to
provide accurate GPS positioning and velocity, allowing flight crews to perform precise landing
approaches, along with a ground proximity warning system (GPWS). To comply with a Congress
mandate for carrying passengers, the aircraft were also fitted with a Traffic Collision-Avoidance
System (TCAS) and a Terrain-Awareness Warning System (TAWS).
Operators
The Northrop Grumman (Grumman) C-2A Greyhound is in service with the US Navy (34). Crash of
one C-2A recorded in November 2017.
Design features
The C-2A Greyhound is structurally common with the Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye, but has
a wide-body fuselage with a rear-loading cargo door, and does not feature the E-2's AWACS
mission modifications.
Landing gear
Basically as for E-2C, but with stronger nose gear (adapted from that of A-6A Intruder) to cater for
higher AUW. Each nosewheel fitted with 20 × 5.5 Type VII 12-ply tyre. Mainwheel tyre pressure
13.8 bars (200 lb/sq in) on ship, 11.4 bars (165 lb/sq in) ashore.
Power plant
Two 3,661 kW (4,910 ehp) Rolls-Royce (Allison) T56-A-425 turboprops, each driving a Hamilton
Standard Type 54460-1 four-blade fully-feathering reversible-pitch constant-speed propeller with
spinner. Two fuel tanks, total capacity 6,905 litres (1,824 US gallons; 1,519 Imp gallons), occupy
entire wing centre-section between the beams and the centreline and wing-fold ribs. Fuelling point
on inboard side of starboard nacelle. For long-range ferrying, fuel tanks can be supplemented by
six 920 litre (243 US gallon; 202 Imp gallon) tanks in main cabin. Oil capacity (usable) 23.5 litres
(6.2 US gallons; 5.2 Imp gallons). Available, but not specified for US Navy C-2As, is the capability
for mounting a flight refuelling probe above the front fuselage.
Accommodation
Pilot and co-pilot side by side on flight deck, with dual controls. Third crew member is loadmaster.
Lavatory and baggage space aft of flight deck. High-strength cargo compartment floor (1,465 kg/m
2; 300 lb/sq ft) incorporates flush tracks for attaching tiedown fittings. Cargo door has integral ramp
for ease of loading outsized cargo. Provision for remotely controlled cargo handling winch.
© 2018 IHS. No portion of this report may be reproduced, reused, or otherwise distributed in any form without prior written
consent, with the exception of any internal client distribution as may be permitted in the license agreement between client and
IHS. Content reproduced or redistributed with IHS permission must display IHS legal notices and attributions of authorship. The
information contained herein is from sources considered reliable but its accuracy and completeness are not warranted, nor are the
opinions and analyses which are based upon it, and to the extent permitted by law, IHS shall not be liable for any errors or
omissions or any loss, damage or expense incurred by reliance on information or any statement contained herein.
Page 2 of 5
Alternative payloads include 28 passengers or 12 litters and attendants. Door at front of cabin on
port side. Although not required for US Navy C-2As, compartment can be adapted to accept
Military Airlift Command 463L material handling and support system, with choice of either three
2.74 × 2.24 m (108 × 88 in) master pallets or five 2.24 × 1.37 m (88 × 54 in) modular pallets.
Systems
Air conditioning system maximum pressure differential 0.45 bars (6.5 lb/sq in). Two independent
hydraulic systems, pressure 207 bars (3,000 lb/sq in). Flight system has two pumps, each rated at
28.4 litres (7.5 US gallons: 6.2 Imp gallons)/min, with an air/oil separated reservoir, capacity 5
litres (1.31 US gallons; 1.09 Imp gallons). The combined system has two pumps, each rated at
94.6 litres (25 US gallons; 21 Imp gallons)/min, with an air/oil separated reservoir, capacity 12.6
litres (3.34 US gallons; 2.78 Imp gallons). Both systems supply control actuators. One system is
also responsible for actuating wing fold system, cargo door, steering damper, arrester hook,
brakes, landing gear, windscreen wipers, flaps, and auxiliary generator. Liquid oxygen breathing
system, with two 10 litre (2.6 US gallon; 2.2 Imp gallon) converters, plus portable unit for cargo or
personnel attendant. Primary electrical system supplied by two independent 115/200 V 400 Hz
three-phase engine driven generators, each rated at 60 kVA. 28 V DC secondary subsystem
supplied by two independent transformer-rectifiers. Gas-turbine APU drives a 10 kVA generator
through an auxiliary hydraulic pump for ground operation and also allows ground starting of the
flight; the 10 kVA generator functions as an emergency generator.
Avionics
HF, VHF, UHF com; Omega, Doppler radar AHRS, dual VOR, UHF, ADF, LF, ADF, and weather
radar. GEC Avionics standard central air data computer.
C-2A
Dimensions, External
Overall
length:
17.32 m (56 ft 10 in)
height:
5.23 m (17 ft 2 in)
Wings
wing span:
24.56 m (80 ft 7 in)
Dimensions, Internal
Cabin
volume:
24.4 m³ (862 cu ft)
Hold
length:
8.38 m (27 ft 6 in)
© 2018 IHS. No portion of this report may be reproduced, reused, or otherwise distributed in any form without prior written
consent, with the exception of any internal client distribution as may be permitted in the license agreement between client and
IHS. Content reproduced or redistributed with IHS permission must display IHS legal notices and attributions of authorship. The
information contained herein is from sources considered reliable but its accuracy and completeness are not warranted, nor are the
opinions and analyses which are based upon it, and to the extent permitted by law, IHS shall not be liable for any errors or
omissions or any loss, damage or expense incurred by reliance on information or any statement contained herein.
Page 3 of 5
width:
2.24 m (7 ft 4 in)
height:
1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Weights and
Loadings
Weight
Weight empty:
16,486 kg (36,346 lb)
Max T-O weight:
26,082 kg (57,500 lb)
Fuel weight
Max fuel weight:
5,625 kg (12,400 lb) [internal]
Payload
Max payload:
Performance
4,536 kg (10,000 lb) [carrier operation]
6,804 kg (15,000 lb) [land operation]
A: max T-O weight
T-O
T-O run:
min
665 m (2,180 ft) [A]
T-O field length:
to 15 m (50 ft)
933 m (3,060 ft) [A]
Climb
Rate of climb:
max, at S/L
796 m/min (2,610 ft/min) [A]
Altitude
Service ceiling:
ferry mission
10,210 m (33,500 ft) [A]
Speed
Max level speed:
310 kt (574 km/h; 357 mph) [A]
Cruising speed:
max
260 kt (482 km/h; 299 mph) [A]
© 2018 IHS. No portion of this report may be reproduced, reused, or otherwise distributed in any form without prior written
consent, with the exception of any internal client distribution as may be permitted in the license agreement between client and
IHS. Content reproduced or redistributed with IHS permission must display IHS legal notices and attributions of authorship. The
information contained herein is from sources considered reliable but its accuracy and completeness are not warranted, nor are the
opinions and analyses which are based upon it, and to the extent permitted by law, IHS shall not be liable for any errors or
omissions or any loss, damage or expense incurred by reliance on information or any statement contained herein.
Page 4 of 5
Range:
1,040 n miles (1,926 km; 1,196 miles) (est) [with 4,536 kg (10,000 lb)
freight]
1,560 n miles (2,889 km; 1,795 miles) [ferry (A)]
Landing
Landing run:
436 m (1,428 ft) [min]
Landing field length:
691 m (2,266 ft) [from 15 m (50 ft)]
Aircraft manufacturer
Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems (Grumman)
United States.
US Navy C-2A Greyhound with NP2000 propellers (Jamie Hunter)
1414429
Additional Information
Equipment Details [Equipment - Classification - Manufacturer]:
C-2A - Transport aircraft - Northrop Grumman (C-2A Greyhound Family nameGreyhound Family
nameBPN WSDC)
C-2A service life extension - Transport aircraft - Northrop Grumman
© 2018 IHS. No portion of this report may be reproduced, reused, or otherwise distributed in any form without prior written
consent, with the exception of any internal client distribution as may be permitted in the license agreement between client and
IHS. Content reproduced or redistributed with IHS permission must display IHS legal notices and attributions of authorship. The
information contained herein is from sources considered reliable but its accuracy and completeness are not warranted, nor are the
opinions and analyses which are based upon it, and to the extent permitted by law, IHS shall not be liable for any errors or
omissions or any loss, damage or expense incurred by reliance on information or any statement contained herein.
Page 5 of 5