The first E-6B Mercury arrived at Northrop Grumman Corporation’s Aircraft Maintenance and Fabrication Center in Lake Charles, Louisiana for Block II modification earlier this month.
The E-6B Mercury allows survivable communication between the president and the triad of nuclear weapon systems – bombers, missile fields, and ballistic missile submarines.
The Airborne Strategic Command, Control, and Communications Program Office (PMA-271) purchased a retired Royal Air Force E-3D for $15 million that will be used as an E-6B Mercury pilot training aircraft.
The U.S. Navy’s E-XX TACAMO aircraft will be based on the C-130J platform and provides connectivity between the National Command Authority and ballistic submarines capable of delivering nuclear weapons.