During the Gray Flag exercise held at a U.S. Navy base in Ventura County, California, sailors from the aviation test and evaluation squadron worked through key capabilities of the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye airborne early warning and control aircraft. These exercises allowed military personnel to deepen their understanding of the aircraft's combat capabilities and test it under conditions approximating real combat scenarios. The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye is used by the U.S. Navy for early warning of airborne threats, air combat management, and coordination of carrier strike group operations. During the exercise, crews practiced coordination with other platforms and systems, which contributed to improving the level of integration of aviation assets in the overall defensive architecture. The squadron's participation in Gray Flag is also viewed by military command as an important phase for future modernizations and development of tactics for employing the aircraft. According to Navy representatives, the data and experience obtained will be used for further enhancement of E-2D capabilities and preparation of personnel to accomplish tasks in a complex operational environment. The Gray Flag exercise is conducted regularly and is aimed at working through coordinated actions of various aviation branches and ground services under conditions simulating modern national security challenges. The participation of specialized test units, such as the squadron involved in this case, makes it possible to integrate the latest technological solutions into the practice of U.S. Navy combat training.