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4d ago

U.S. Navy Names E-130J TACAMO Aircraft Phoenix II

Drawing on C-130 heritage to symbolize resilience, the designation sets the stage for replacing the aging Mercury fleet with initial Phoenix II deliveries due in fiscal 2026.

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

Overview

  • The E-130J, now officially named Phoenix II, will take over the Navy’s TACAMO mission from the Boeing E-6B Mercury fleet that has served for more than three decades.
  • The popular name evokes the mythical phoenix’s resilience and nods to the EC-130Q platform that performed the TACAMO role from 1963 to 1993.
  • The $3.5 billion recapitalization contract awarded in 2024 to Northrop Grumman covers integration of Very Low Frequency mission systems and includes electromagnetic pulse and cybersecurity hardening.
  • Strategic Communications Wing 1 squadrons VQ-3, VQ-4 and VQ-7 at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, will operate the new Phoenix II fleet.
  • Initial Phoenix II deliveries are slated for fiscal year 2026, ensuring continuity of the Navy’s nuclear command, control and communications link to ballistic missile submarines.