Thursday, December 04, 2008

E-6 Mercury

IOC: 1989
Total Production: 16
Total Program's Cost: USD$2.3 billion

E-6B Mercury

IOC: 1997
Unitary Cost: USD$142 million

Also Known As
TACAMO

Origin
United States of America

Contractor/s
Boeing

Protection Systems:
AN/ALR-66B

Description: The US Navy E-6 Mercury, also known as TACAMO (TAke Charge And Move Out), is a communications relay and an airborne command post aircraft derived from the Boeing 707 commercial aircraft. It provides survivable, reliable, and endurable command, control and communications between the National Command Authorities and strategic and non-strategic US forces worldwide.

The E-6 aircraft replaced the aging EC-130Q performing airborne communications between the US national authorities and submarine ballistic forces during times of crisis. It carries a very low frequency communications dual trailing wire antennas.

The first E-6A aircraft was accepted by the US Navy in 1989. The E-6B was conceived for the replacement of the EC-135 Looking Glass airborne command post aircraft, while retaining E-6A capabilities. The first aircraft entered service with the US Navy in 1997 and assumed its dual purpose operational mission in October 1998.

The E-6B dual purpose aircraft (command post and communications link) was equipped with the Airborne Launch Control System (ALCS). ALCS is capable of launching land based intercontinental ballistic missiles. The E-6 fleet was completely upgraded to the B model standard in 2003 being powered by four CFM-56-2A-2 turbofans.

Specifications
Accommodation: Crew 22

Dimensions: Height 12.9 m, Length 45.8 m, Wingspan 45.2 m

Weights: Max Weight 154 t

Performance: Ceiling 12,200 m (40,026 ft), Endurance 6 hours, Max Range 12,150 km (6,560 nm), Top Speed 267 mps (Mach 0.80)

Other: Number of Engines 4

News
US Navy Receives Final Upgraded E-6B Aircraft

Operators

United States of America / 16

Image Gallery

Notes
(*) lead contractor
IOC: Initial Operating Capability
FOC: Full Operating Capability
CEP: Circular Error Probable
Comm: Commissioning Date
Meters (m) Kilometers (km) Nautic Miles (nm) Inch (in) Yard (yd) Foot (ft) Millimeter (mm)
Pound (lb) Kilogram (kg) kN (KiloNewton) Ton (t)
Meters per Second (mps) Kilometers per Hour (kph) Knot (kt) Miles per Hour (mph)
Liter (l) Galon (gl)
Year (yr) Minutes (min) Second (sec)
Shaft-Horse-Power (shp)

Last Updated: Saturday, November 22, 2008

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