Summary
- The Boeing E-6 remains crucial in US military despite its age, serving as a command and control center.
- Upgrades by Northrop Grumman enhance the capabilities of the E-6B Mercury, ensuring its mission readiness.
- Lockheed E-XX project will soon start replacing the E-6 for submarine communication, but the E-6 will retain control center function.
The Boeing E-6 has been an important part of the US military fleet since 1989. The aircraft may be aging now (at least relative to commercial aircraft), but with another upgrade program currently underway with Northrop Grumman, it remains as important as ever.
The Boeing E-6 Mercury in US military service
The Boeing's E-6 Mercury is a variant of the Boeing 707 quadjet. It was the last derivative of the Boeing 707 in production, produced by Boeing up to 1991. The type has served the US for almost 35 years, joining the Navy in 1989 as an in-air control center for its fleet of nuclear-powered submarines (the so-called Take Charge And Move Out or TACAMO role).
The original E-6A has been upgraded since with the E-6B, offering expanded capabilities as a command and control center. This has several roles, including acting as a command center – or ‘Airborne Command Post’ (ABNCP)' - for nuclear forces in the event of ground communications failure. It also retains the TACAMO role.
Related
The Boeing E-6 Mercury: America's Flying Nuclear Command Center
At almost 35 years old, the US Navy's E-6B Mercury continues to serve as an airborne command center for its nuclear arsenal.
The E-6B offers many specific features for its role. This includes extensive communications technology (including VLF, HF, VHF, UHF, submarine, and satellite communication). It is also strengthened to withstand electromagnetic pulse (EMP). All E-6A aircraft were upgraded to E6-B standard between 1998 and 2006.
Further upgrades from 2023
The E-6 airframes may be aging, but the technology is not. A further major upgrade program is currently underway with Northrop Grumman. The first upgraded E-6B Mercury aircraft was completed in June 2023; others are now in progress.
In a statement shared by Northrop Grumman, VP of platform sustainment and mission readiness Scott Pfeiffer explained,
“Northrop Grumman is leveraging cutting-edge technology in modernization, supporting the Navy’s mission to provide survivable, reliable and endurable airborne command, control and communications between the National Command Authority (NCA) and U.S. strategic and nonstrategic forces for persistent mission readiness.”
The Lockheed E-XX project
There is a new project underway that will at least partially replace the E-6 fleet. Development under the Lockheed E-XX project began in 2022, and the aim is to develop a militarized Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules to take on the submarine communication / TACAMO role of the E-6.
Keep up with the latest Simple Flying coverage of military aviation here.
The newer aircraft will be fitted with the latest communication equipment and will (eventually) take over from E-6 in this role in the late 2020s. It will not, however, operate under the command post / ABNCP role. This is to be retained by E-6.
Decades of service remaining
Despite the age of the aircraft (and production ending in 1991), they are expected to remain in service – potentially for decades. The US Navy currently operates a fleet of 16 E-6B aircraft (with reportedly one aircraft airborne at all times), and these are now working through the upgrade program. There is no retirement date set or discussed yet for the type.
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Top 5: The Oldest Military Transport Aircraft Still In Service
The aircraft often have a longer service life than civilian aircraft, with many models still flying after more than 50 years of service.
Some aircraft will likely be retired when the new Lockheed aircraft are delivered, but this has not been confirmed. The control center role, though, will remain on E-6 for the foreseeable future. This will have a significant impact, though, as it is the TACAMO role that involves the most stress for the aging airframes – deploying the VLF antennas for submarine communications requires steep turns and maneuvers.
Such a long service life would be very unusual for a commercial aircraft, but it is not uncommon in military and private use. The E-6 is not even the oldest 707 derivative in use by US Forces. The E-8 aircraft are based on 707s that flew as early as 1966 and still remain in the air – again with continuing upgrades.
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In even longer service, the US military has operated the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress since 1955. It remains well in use (also with significant upgrade programs) and is expected to remain in service into the 2050s.
Read more about the B-52 fleet and upgrades here
Would you like to discuss more about the E-6 aircraft, its updates, partial replacement, and longevity? Feel free to do so in the comments section below.
Boeing
- Stock Code:
- BA
- Date Founded:
- 1916-07-15
- CEO:
- Dave Calhoun
- Headquarters Location:
- Chicago, USA
- Key Product Lines:
- Boeing 737, Boeing 747, Boeing 757, Boeing 767, Boeing 777, Boeing 787
- Business Type:
- Planemaker
