The US Navy began its TACAMO mission in the early 1960s, when it was determined that an airborne Very Low Frequency (VLF) communications system was feasible.
The United States Navy’s next-generation “Take Charge and Move Out” (TACAMO) mission aircraft has received its official designation. The US Navy’s Airborne Strategic Command, Control and Communications Program Office (PMA-271) and the Strategic Communications Wing 1 (SCW-1) announced last fall that the placeholder, named “E-XX,” would become the E-130J. Earlier this month, that aircraft received the formal designation Phoenix II.
The designation is meant to evoke “the mythical bird whose ability is to be reborn and represents a symbol of immortality, resurrection, and renewal,” PMA-271 explained. It is also a “nod” to the EC-130Q Hercules TACAMO, which fulfilled the same mission from 1963 to 1993.
The new E-130J Phoenix II will take over the mission from the US Navy’s E-6B Mercury fleet.
“Phoenix II is the ideal popular name as we take the E-130J TACAMO mission into its next phase,” explained Capt. Roger Davis, PMA-271 program manager. “A phoenix is known for its resilience, exceptionally long lifespan, and its ability to transform and continue its purpose. The dedicated team at PMA-271 have committed to the ideals of TACAMO’s critical deterrence mission when executing this new platform; transforming the legacy mission aircraft into a new weapon system with unmatched survivability and longevity for this country.”
Replacement of the E-6B fleet is set to begin in fiscal year 2028 (FY28), the Navy announced in its FY24 budget estimates. It is at least the 18th variant of the famed Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules.
The TACAMO Mission, Explained
The US Navy began its “TACAMO” mission in the early 1960s, when it was determined that “an airborne Very Low Frequency (VLF) communications system was feasible.” The program was originally intended as a backup way to signal American nuclear infrastructure, in the event of an enemy strike designed to take out the US military’s communications channels. It was thought that an airborne communications system using VLF frequency, which is difficult to jam electronically, would be more reliable than a ground-based system that could be targeted in long-range missile strikes.
Four US Air Force C-130 aircraft initially underwent “extensive modification” and served as the basis for the TACAMO program. Since the 1990s, the US Navy and US Air Force have shared the airborne command responsibilities, with the sea service operating the E-6 aircraft, based on the Boeing 707 civilian aircraft.
Bristling with 31 communication antennas, the E-6As were initially tasked solely with communicating with submerged Navy submarines. Retrofitted with more fuel-efficient CFM-56 turbojets and benefiting from expanded fuel tanks, the E-6A could remain in the air up to fifteen hours, or seventy-two with in-flight refueling.
Between 1997 and 2006, the Pentagon upgraded the entire E-6A fleet to the dual-role E-6B, which expanded the Mercury’s capabilities by allowing it to serve as an Airborne Nuclear Command Post with its battle staff area for the job. In that role, it serves as a backup for four huge E-4 command post aircraft based on the Boeing 747 jumbo jet. The E-6B has ultra-high-frequency radios in its Airborne Launch Control system that enable it to remotely launch land-based ballistic missiles from their underground silos, a task formerly assigned to US Air Force EC-135 Looking Glass aircraft—yet another 707 variant.
Two Navy Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadrons currently operate the E-6: VQ-3 “Ironmen” and VQ-4 “Shadows,” both under the Navy Strategic Communications Wing 1. These have their home at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma, but also routinely forward deploy out of Travis AFB in California and Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Maryland. At least one E-6 is kept airborne at all times.
By the end of the decade, those duties will be transferred to the Phoenix II.
Why Did the US Military Switch Back to the E-130J?
PMA-271 explained that the introduction of the E-130J Phoenix II “will recapitalize the aging E-6B Mercury fleet that has been in service for more than three decades.”
The switch back to the E-130J aircraft will ensure that military leaders can communicate with the latest nuclear assets, including the future Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines, the land-based Sentinel missiles, and the Air Force’s bomber fleet.
The decision to go to the smaller E-130J is noteworthy. The program involved a partnership between Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Raytheon Intelligence and Space, which was awarded the contract in 2023.
“I’m pleased that this very important program remains on track, and that we were able to leverage our community sailors and veterans through the process,” added Capt. Britt Windeler, commander of SCW-1. “I feel like Phoenix II is especially apt, as we are returning to our roots of executing the TACAMO mission on a C-130 variant.”
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a thirty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
