The US Navy E-6B Mercury TACAMO aircraft is one of the least known but most important members of the US Navy Air Force, providing reliable air command, control, and communication capabilities between the US President, Secretary of Defense, and strategic or non strategic forces. The full English name of TACAMO is "Take Charge and Move Out", which means communication relay. The literal translation is "responsible for commanding and initiating operations". This article mainly introduces the US Navy's follow-up development plan and replacement concept for the E-6B.

The E-6B Mercury is a strategic communication aircraft of the US Navy, responsible for the Communications Relay (TACAMO) mission. During wartime, it served as an important communication link between the US President and the Ohio class ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs), which were a key component of US strategic nuclear deterrence. The E-6B has been in service since 1989, and the US Navy is planning to replace it with a new C-130J Super Hercules aircraft.

The US Navy currently has a total of 16 E-6B aircraft, which are modifications of the Boeing 707 aircraft. As the largest aircraft in the navy, they are operated by two Air Reconnaissance (VQ) squadrons. To conceal its reconnaissance role, the squadron was not originally named after this, just like the VQ-1 squadron of the Navy EP-3E. The bases of these two E-6B squadrons (VQ-3 and VQ-4) are located at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma, where the Air Force can assist in maintaining large aircraft.

The TACAMO aircraft is equipped with a long down line antenna, which is used to relay very low frequency (VLF) radio messages to ballistic missile submarines in water. The aircraft body can withstand significant pressure and maintain a large tilt angle when flying on a small orbit for a long time, making the vertical antenna perpendicular and facilitating effective penetration of radio waves into water.

The E-6B not only maintains communication with the Navy's ballistic missile submarines, but also plays the role of a command post, which was previously carried out by the EC-135C "scope" aircraft before 1998. The E-6B is equipped with Air Force and Navy crews, and is equipped with an Airborne Launch Control System (ALCS). If authorized by the Commander in Chief, it can launch the Air Force's Minuteman II intercontinental ballistic missile.

The US Navy is planning to replace TACAMO with new aircraft. Colonel Adam T. Scott, the project manager of the Air Strategic Command and Control Communications Project Office (PMA-271), introduced that the E-6B was modified based on the commercial aircraft 707, which was introduced in 1956. When purchasing the aircraft, the expected service life was approximately 25000 flight hours. PMA-271 has led the completion of a lifespan extension project, increasing the service life of E-6B to approximately 45000 hours, equivalent to availability until the 2030s. E-6B is thus able to continue fulfilling its mission.

At the end of the 2020 fiscal year, the Ministry of National Defense accelerated the capital restructuring of the TACAMO mission. This resolution reflects the US military's recognition of the importance of balancing the aging E-6B and TACAMO missions. Colonel Scott stated that the Navy is initiating the TACAMO Capital Restructuring Project (E-XX) through PMA-271. We have developed a preliminary procurement strategy with milestone decision-making bodies responsible for approval. The first industrial day activity has been carried out and market research is continuing

In November 2020, E-XX was designated as a major defense acquisition program, almost the highest priority project as a pre-milestone B acquisition category 1B program before milestone B.

On December 18, 2020, PMA-271 issued a request for information, announcing that the Navy intends to discuss with Lockheed Martin and award them a single source contract to purchase up to three C-130J-30 "Stretch" aircraft for testing and analysis in the 2022/2023 fiscal year.

Currently, the C-130J is a more modern version of the C-130 family, used by the US Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and many foreign air forces. The C-130J-30 is similar, but its fuselage is 15 feet long.

Compared to the current E-6B Mercury, the reinforced C-130J can adapt to various airports. In addition, considering that the predecessor of E-6B - EC-130G/Q, is also a Hercules series, it is natural to choose C-130J.

On January 5, 2021, General Charles Richard, Commander of the United States Strategic Command, stated in a webinar, "The Navy is fully capable of supporting my mission requirements - ensuring robust communication with ballistic missile submarines. I believe the Navy is making a great decision to transition to the C-130

Colonel Scott stated that PMA-271 continues to provide aircraft support for the E-6B and ensure that it meets the mission requirements of the United States Strategic Command, Fleet Force Command, and Strategic Communications Wing One operators and maintainers.

In recent years, the E-6B has been equipped with multi-purpose tactical universal data links, beyond line of sight terminal families, presidential and national teleconference equipment (retrofitted), as well as a digital red switch system and new auxiliary power units. As of now, the modification of one aircraft has been completed and returned to the fleet for continuous testing. The second and third aircraft are currently undergoing modification. Other ongoing modifications include replacing the very low frequency receiver, modifying the very low frequency transmitter system, and the carbon brake system is about to be installed.

The US Air Force has provided significant support for E-6B related projects, and the two militaries have become closely connected partners. The navy has hired air force personnel from the air logistics facility at the Tinker base in the city of Oklahoma to be responsible for maintaining the heavy arsenal. In addition, the Air Force is also the owner of some shared components of the E-6B, such as the C3 system and Milstar. The Air Force repaired these components and returned them for installation on the E-6B. The 707 is also the carrier of the Air Force E-8 Joint Surveillance and Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS) project, which is the same as the original model of the Navy E-6B.

The US Navy also purchased another 707 model, the former Royal Air Force E-3D Sentry. The US Navy will retrofit it for use by the VQ-7 replacement training squadron serving the E-6B unit. The large antenna cover, pillars, and aerial refueling probe of E-3D will be removed to better reflect the characteristics of E-6B. When deployed in fiscal year 2024, this aircraft will reduce 600 flight hours and 1200 landings for US Navy combat aircraft annually.

Source: Defense News