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4d ago

U.S. Navy Names E-130J Phoenix II as Its Next-Gen TACAMO Aircraft

Honoring the EC-130Q heritage, the name marks the Navy’s move to a C-130J platform for its airborne nuclear command mission.

Artist rendering of the E-130J Phoenix II. (Image credit: Northrop Grumman)
Image
Image credit: Northrop Grumman
E-6B US Navy Tacamo

Overview

  • The Navy officially christened the E-130J replacement for the Boeing E-6B Mercury as Phoenix II on August 8, 2025.
  • Phoenix II invokes the mythical bird’s resilience and pays tribute to the EC-130Q variant used from 1963 to 1993.
  • Strategic Communications Wing 1 squadrons at Tinker AFB, including VQ-3, VQ-4 and VQ-7, will operate the new fleet.
  • Northrop Grumman leads integration of advanced survivability and communications systems under a $3.5 billion recapitalization deal awarded in 2024.
  • The platform will feature electromagnetic pulse and cyber hardening plus modernized very low frequency links ahead of initial deliveries and the E-6B’s retirement.