Boeing E-6 Mercury TACAMO
Summary
| Category | Other aircraft |
| Origin country | 🇺🇸 United States |
| First flight | 19 February 1987 |
| Year of introduction | 1989 |
| Number produced | 16 units |
| Average unit price | $141 million |
Description
Several military aircraft have been derived from the renowned Boeing 707 since 1957: the presidential aircraft "Air Force One", the E-3 Sentry, and the EC-135. Derived from the 707-320 series, these aircraft demonstrate great potential in terms of habitability, autonomy, maintenance, and, of course, production.
Building on its experience with the E-3 Sentry AWACS (which includes specific electromagnetic and nuclear protections), and aiming to replace the aging EC-130Q, Boeing developed a new aircraft based on the 707: the E-6A, designed for "TACAMO" missions (Take Charges And Move Out), which involve providing communication link between the National Command Authority (NCA) and the US Navy's fleet of nuclear submarines.
An order for 16 aircraft was placed in 1984. In August 1989, the first E-6A was delivered to the US Navy, equipped with the following main features: - In-flight refueling receptacle, - Rear access door adapted from cargo versions, - Deployable antennas from the fuselage and rear cone of the empennage, - DAISS (Digital Airborne Intercontinental Switching System), a system that allows automatic distribution of audio signals to various communication systems, - MILSTAR (Military Strategic Tactical And Relay), a satellite relay system, - MCS (Mission Computer System), enabling automatic distribution of transmissions (printers, consoles, etc.), - HPTS (High Power Transmit Set), a 200-kilowatt amplifier. All these electronic systems form the RESY (Raytheon E-System). The aircraft also benefits from reinforced electromagnetic and nuclear protections.
To fulfill its communication transmission mission, the E-6A deploys two long antennas while performing a racetrack maneuver. Due to the optimized conditions at certain altitudes and well-defined angles, the E-6 is equipped with an automatic engine power regulation control and the FMCS (Flight Management Computer System). The latter is a powerful flight command management system that ensures consistency between the aircraft's trajectories and the optimization of radio links (verticality of the antennas).
In 1997, an upgraded version called E-6B "Looking Glass" was developed to expand the capabilities of the E-6A. It was equipped with an Airborne Launch Control System (ALCS) for ground-based ballistic missile control. This system operates in UHF (Ultra High Frequencies) and allows for missile status determination, actual launch, and target designations. The E-6B then replaced the EC-135 ABCNP and became operational in October 1998. The entire fleet of E-6A was upgraded to the E-6B standard in 2003. It now performs the functions of an Airborne Command Post (ABNCP) and TACAMO.
The missions of the E-6 involve flights of over 15 hours without in-flight refueling, and up to a maximum of 72 hours with refueling. In its TACAMO mission, the E-6 operates independently from various locations in the United States for 15-day rotations heading to the Atlantic or Pacific. Alert postures last for 24 hours, and the crews are self-sufficient except for fuel and supplies. Each aircraft can accommodate a maximum of 22 crew members, including 8 members of the staff. Currently, there are 16 operational aircraft.
Technical specifications
| Version: E-6B Mercury | |
|---|---|
| Crew | 22 members |
| Operational range | 12000 km (7456 mi) |
| Maximum speed | 966 km/h (600 mph) |
| Wingspan | 45.2 m (148.3 ft) |
| Height | 12.9 m (42.3 ft) |
| Length | 45.8 m (150.3 ft) |
| Service ceiling | 12192 m (40000 ft) |
| Max. takeoff weight | 155128 kg (341998 lbs) |
| Powerplant | 4 × turbojets CFM International CFM56-2A-2 delivering 11213 kgp |
Current operating countries
No country is operating the E-6 Mercury TACAMO in 2024.
All operators
Photo of E-6 Mercury TACAMO
