Northrop Grumman nets $3.5 billion deal to deliver E-130J aircraft for US Navy’s TACAMO mission

Defense company Northrop Grumman has been selected as the prime contractor to deliver nuclear command, control, and communications (NC3) aircraft for the US Navy’s Take Charge And Move Out (TACAMO) mission. 

As disclosed, the US Navy has awarded Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation a $3.549 billion contract to conduct the mission-systems integration for the E-130J, which will be the successor to the E-6B Mercury.

The company invested more than $1 billion in digital engineering and manufacturing capabilities that will assist in rapidly designing, building, testing, and sustaining the E-130J. The E-130J TACAMO industry team also consists of Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, Raytheon, Crescent Systems, and Long Wave.

Under the contract, Northrop Grumman will serve as the prime contractor to integrate TACAMO mission systems, including the Collins Aerospace very low-frequency system, into government-furnished C-130J-30 air vehicles built by Lockheed Martin.

The contract is for three engineering development models (EDMs) and options for up to three system demonstration test articles (SDTAs) and up to six aircraft in the first lot of production.

Collins Aerospace and Lockheed Martin are directed subcontractors to support the integration and airworthiness.

The team will deliver the E-130J to relieve the US Navy’s current E-6B Mercury fleet of the TACAMO mission.​

“Our performance on Navy programs like the E-2D and E-6B prove we deliver on what we promise, and we will bring this expertise in helping the Navy deliver the E-130J on time and optimized for this strategically important mission,” Jane Bishop, vice president and general manager, global surveillance division, Northrop Grumman, said.

The US Navy’s TACAMO mission provides connectivity between the National Command Authority and the US nuclear forces.

The navy currently operates a fleet of E-6B Mercury aircraft to provide survivable, reliable, and endurable airborne command, control, and communications between the National Command Authority and the US forces.

The company stated that the E-130J will modernize this critical strategic deterrent mission.

According to the US Navy, the E-130J is a critical part of the US’ nuclear modernization program, which includes new Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines, new bomber aircraft such as the B-21 Raider, and Sentinel, a new ground-based system to replace the silo-based Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles.