The E-2D Hawkeye, operated by the French Navy’s Flotilla 4F, is a crucial airborne early warning aircraft. However, it lacks in-flight refueling capabilities, which, despite its operational range of approximately 6 hours (or 1,450 nautical miles), can limit the operational scope of the carrier air group (GAé) aboard the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle.

In contrast, advanced military aircraft such as the Rafale M, A330 MRTT, and A400M are equipped to refuel the E-2D Hawkeye in-flight, significantly enhancing its operational flexibility and mission endurance.