$21.9M for USA’s E-6 Mercury Fleet Spares, Training

Crazy ’bout a Mercury…(click to view full) The USA’s E-6 Mercury (aka. TACAMO, as in TAke Charge And Move Out) “survivable airborne communication system” airplanes support their Navy’s SSBN ballistic missile submarine force and overall strategic forces. With the advent of the new “Tactical Trident” converted Ohio Class special operations subs, their unique capabilities become even more useful. They also have a secondary role as Airborne National Command Posts. Delivery of the first production E-6 aircraft took place in August 1989, with delivery of the 16th and final airplane coming in May 1992. Now the Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, MD has issued a pair of contracts that aim to improve both the E-6 fleet’s maintenance situation, and their training options. E-6 Mercury: Messenger from On High Gonna buy me a Mercury…(click to view full) These Boeing 707-300 derivatives use their very-low-frequency (VLF) dual trailing wire antenna system to permit one-way, emergency communications to submerged submarines, providing a vital link from national command authorities without forcing the subs to reveal their positions. In an emergency, the E-6 fleet will also provide an Airborne National Command Post (ABNCP) for United States Command in Chief for Strategic Forces and theater […]