Naval Air Systems Command at Patuxent River, Maryland, announced on August 7, 2025, that the U.S. Navy’s new aircraft for the Take Charge and Move Out mission, or TACAMO, will carry the designation E-130J Phoenix II. The Airborne Strategic Command, Control and Communications Program Office, known as PMA-271, and Strategic Communications Wing 1 made the joint declaration, highlighting the aircraft’s role in replacing the aging E-6B Mercury fleet. The name Phoenix II draws from the mythical bird symbolizing rebirth and renewal, reflecting the return to a C-130-based platform after decades on the Boeing-derived E-6B.
The E-130J Phoenix II will serve as a communications relay and airborne command post, ensuring survivable links between the president, secretary of defense and U.S. Strategic Command with naval ballistic missile forces. This mission, critical for nuclear command and control, traces back to the EC-130Q, which handled TACAMO duties from 1963 to 1993 before the E-6B took over in 1989. The new aircraft revives the C-130 lineage, adapted with modern systems for enhanced endurance and reliability. PMA-271, headquartered at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in St. Mary’s County, oversees the program’s development, while Strategic Communications Wing 1 operates from Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma, with squadrons including Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron 3, 4 and 7.
“Phoenix II is the ideal popular name as we take the E-130J TACAMO mission into its next phase,” said Capt. Roger Davis, PMA-271 program manager. “A phoenix is known for its resilience, exceptionally long lifespan, and its ability to transform and continue its purpose. The dedicated team at PMA-271 have committed to the ideals of TACAMO’s critical deterrence mission when executing this new platform; transforming the legacy mission aircraft into a new weapon system with unmatched survivability and longevity for this country.”
Capt. Britt Windeler, commander of Strategic Communications Wing 1, added, “I’m pleased that this very important program remains on track, and that we were able to leverage our community sailors and veterans through the process. I feel like Phoenix II is especially apt, as we are returning to our roots of executing the TACAMO mission on a C-130 variant.”
The announcement follows the formal designation of the E-130J in October 2024, replacing the placeholder E-XX. The Navy selected the Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules airframe in June 2023 as the basis for the platform, citing its proven performance in maritime patrol and other roles. In December 2024, the Navy awarded a $3.5 billion contract to Northrop Grumman for mission systems integration, including engineering and manufacturing development to adapt the aircraft for TACAMO requirements. This contract, managed through PMA-271 at Patuxent River, involves installing very low frequency communications, command post capabilities and other classified systems to ensure the E-130J Phoenix II can operate in contested environments.
The E-6B Mercury, based on the Boeing 707, has served for over 30 years, providing airborne nuclear command, control and communications. Its fleet, numbering 16 aircraft, faces sustainment challenges due to age, prompting the recapitalization effort. The E-130J Phoenix II aims to deliver improved availability and lower operating costs, with initial operational capability targeted for the early 2030s. Procedural steps in the acquisition include ongoing risk reduction testing at Patuxent River, where flight evaluations assess the C-130J’s integration with TACAMO payloads. The program emphasizes collaboration with industry partners, including Lockheed Martin for the airframe and Collins Aerospace for communications gear.
TACAMO’s history ties deeply to Patuxent River, where the mission evolved in the 1960s. The concept began in 1961 as a test program to relay messages to submerged submarines, leading to the establishment of Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron 4 at the base in 1968. Early EC-130Q operations were tested there, solidifying the site’s role in airborne command innovations. Naval Air Station Patuxent River, commissioned in 1943, centralizes aviation testing for the Navy, hosting over 200 aircraft and employing thousands in research and development. The base contributes significantly to Southern Maryland’s economy, supporting jobs in engineering, logistics and support services across St. Mary’s, Calvert and Charles counties.
The E-130J Phoenix II program is expected to sustain and potentially expand employment at Patuxent River, where PMA-271 manages a workforce focused on survivable communications. Local contractors and small businesses may benefit from subcontracts in systems integration and testing, aligning with the Navy’s emphasis on domestic manufacturing.
In March 2025, PMA-271 held a change of command ceremony at the base, underscoring ongoing leadership transitions as the program advances. Community leaders in Southern Maryland view such initiatives as vital for economic stability, given the region’s reliance on defense-related activities.
Social media reactions to the announcement included shares from aviation enthusiasts and official Navy accounts, emphasizing the symbolic return to C-130 roots. The E-130J Phoenix II represents a modernization step in the Navy’s nuclear deterrence posture, ensuring continuity of command in potential crises. As development progresses at Patuxent River, the aircraft will undergo rigorous testing to meet operational standards, maintaining the TACAMO mission’s legacy of reliability.
