The U.S. Navy has officially designated its new “Take Charge and Move Out” (TACAMO) mission aircraft as the E-130J Phoenix II. This strategic communications aircraft is designed to maintain a critical link between national leadership and the nuclear triad, even in the event of a national emergency or nuclear conflict. The name, Phoenix II, is a symbolic nod to the mythical bird of rebirth and reflects the program’s return to the proven C-130 platform after decades of using a different airframe.
The E-130J, previously known by the placeholder designation E-XX, is built on the airframe of the Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 Super Hercules. It is being developed under the TACAMO Recapitalization Program to replace the aging E-6B Mercury fleet, which has been in service for more than 30 years. The E-6B Mercury, based on a Boeing 707 airframe, has served as a communications relay and airborne command post. The new E-130J will focus specifically on the TACAMO mission, ensuring survivable and reliable airborne nuclear command and control communications.
Northrop Grumman was awarded a multi-billion dollar contract to serve as the prime contractor for the E-130J program. The company is responsible for integrating advanced mission systems, including a Very Low Frequency (VLF) subsystem and specialized equipment, into the C-130J-30 airframes. These modifications are designed to harden the aircraft against the effects of an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) from a nuclear blast and to operate in a contested environment. The program is part of a broader U.S. nuclear modernization effort, which includes the development of new submarines, bombers, and intercontinental ballistic missile systems.
The E-130J Phoenix II is expected to provide decades of service, ensuring the continuity of operations for the U.S. nuclear deterrent. Its popular name reflects a return to the roots of the TACAMO mission, which was first carried out on a C-130 variant, the EC-130Q, from 1963 to 1993. The new aircraft will be operated by the Strategic Communications Wing 1 (SCW-1), headquartered at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma.