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Lockheed Martin E-130J
The Lockheed Martin E-130J Phoenix II is a planned airborne command post and communication relay aircraft based on the C-130J-30.
The E-130J is intended to replace the Boeing E-6 Mercury in the TACAMO role for the US Navy, but not the associated "Looking Glass" role for the US Air Force. The replacement of the E-6B fleet is to begin in fiscal year 2028.
In the 1990s, the US Navy and US Air Force consolidated their respective airborne command post and communication relay requirements into a single aircraft program operated by the Navy. The Boeing 707-based E-6 Mercury replaced the EC-130Q in the "Take Charge and Move Out" (TACAMO) role in 1989. As the EC-135 was retired, the E-6B Mercury replaced it in the "Looking Glass" role while the E-4 replaced it in the Airborne Command Post (ABNCP) role. The Boeing 707 production line closed following the delivery of the last E-6 Mercury and consequently spare parts for the platform are scarce and operations have become increasingly expensive. The E-6 Mercury fleet was modernized to the E-6B standard in 1998, but will reach the end of their expected service lives in the 2030s.[citation needed]
By 2015, both the Air Force and Navy realized that they had to look ahead to new platforms to manage their nuclear arsenals in combat. Initially, the two services sought a common replacement aircraft for the E-4, E-6, and C-32A aircraft under the moniker NEAT (combining National Airborne Operations Center (NAOC), Executive Airlift, Airborne Command Post (ABNCP), Take Charge and Move Out (TACAMO).
However, as the program progressed the Navy's TACAMO requirements and the Air Force's ABNCP requirements diverged. In December 2020 (FY2021), the US Navy announced that it awarded a contract to Lockheed Martin for the purchase of the C-130J-30 Hercules as a testbed for the TACAMO mission. The aircraft selection represents a return to the C-130 platform by the Navy, which used the EC-130Q (an older variant despite the higher letter) for the TACAMO mission from 1963 until 1993.[citation needed]
The selection of the C-130 platform, which is much smaller than the E-6, was surprising to some who expected something based on the larger P-8 Poseidon (based on the Boeing 737) or the much larger KC-46 Pegasus (based on the Boeing 767).
The Navy determined that the elimination of the ABNCP and "Looking Glass" requirements reduces the crew size and endurance requirements, allowing for a much smaller aircraft. Additionally, using a C-130-based platform ensures training and supply chain commonality with other US military C-130 programs. Finally, a C-130-based platform can deploy to a much wider range of bases around the world than a larger jet-based platform. With the C-130's reduced runway requirements compared to any of the above jets and design features that emphasize austere and even rough-field capabilities, the E-130J's operations would become less predictable to adversaries.
Three pre-production aircraft were purchased in FY2023: one to be used for air vehicle testing, the other two for mission systems testing. In October 2024, the Navy re-designated the E-XX as the E-130J. The Navy envisions purchases of three production aircraft in FY2027 and another six in FY2028.
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Lockheed Martin E-130J
The Lockheed Martin E-130J Phoenix II is a planned airborne command post and communication relay aircraft based on the C-130J-30.
The E-130J is intended to replace the Boeing E-6 Mercury in the TACAMO role for the US Navy, but not the associated "Looking Glass" role for the US Air Force. The replacement of the E-6B fleet is to begin in fiscal year 2028.
In the 1990s, the US Navy and US Air Force consolidated their respective airborne command post and communication relay requirements into a single aircraft program operated by the Navy. The Boeing 707-based E-6 Mercury replaced the EC-130Q in the "Take Charge and Move Out" (TACAMO) role in 1989. As the EC-135 was retired, the E-6B Mercury replaced it in the "Looking Glass" role while the E-4 replaced it in the Airborne Command Post (ABNCP) role. The Boeing 707 production line closed following the delivery of the last E-6 Mercury and consequently spare parts for the platform are scarce and operations have become increasingly expensive. The E-6 Mercury fleet was modernized to the E-6B standard in 1998, but will reach the end of their expected service lives in the 2030s.[citation needed]
By 2015, both the Air Force and Navy realized that they had to look ahead to new platforms to manage their nuclear arsenals in combat. Initially, the two services sought a common replacement aircraft for the E-4, E-6, and C-32A aircraft under the moniker NEAT (combining National Airborne Operations Center (NAOC), Executive Airlift, Airborne Command Post (ABNCP), Take Charge and Move Out (TACAMO).
However, as the program progressed the Navy's TACAMO requirements and the Air Force's ABNCP requirements diverged. In December 2020 (FY2021), the US Navy announced that it awarded a contract to Lockheed Martin for the purchase of the C-130J-30 Hercules as a testbed for the TACAMO mission. The aircraft selection represents a return to the C-130 platform by the Navy, which used the EC-130Q (an older variant despite the higher letter) for the TACAMO mission from 1963 until 1993.[citation needed]
The selection of the C-130 platform, which is much smaller than the E-6, was surprising to some who expected something based on the larger P-8 Poseidon (based on the Boeing 737) or the much larger KC-46 Pegasus (based on the Boeing 767).
The Navy determined that the elimination of the ABNCP and "Looking Glass" requirements reduces the crew size and endurance requirements, allowing for a much smaller aircraft. Additionally, using a C-130-based platform ensures training and supply chain commonality with other US military C-130 programs. Finally, a C-130-based platform can deploy to a much wider range of bases around the world than a larger jet-based platform. With the C-130's reduced runway requirements compared to any of the above jets and design features that emphasize austere and even rough-field capabilities, the E-130J's operations would become less predictable to adversaries.
Three pre-production aircraft were purchased in FY2023: one to be used for air vehicle testing, the other two for mission systems testing. In October 2024, the Navy re-designated the E-XX as the E-130J. The Navy envisions purchases of three production aircraft in FY2027 and another six in FY2028.