RTX subsidiary Collins Aerospace has secured a significant $20.3-million contract with the U.S. Navy to enhance the capabilities of its E-6B airborne command post and communications relay aircraft. Commonly referred to as the “Mercury,” this aircraft plays a crucial role in the Navy’s Take Charge and Move Out (TACAMO) missions, ensuring effective communication between government leaders and military personnel in scenarios involving major conflicts or potential nuclear attacks.
The contract awarded to Collins Aerospace involves the delivery of three full-rate production high-power transmit set modernization (HPTS-M) kits. These kits are designed to upgrade the aircraft’s strategic communications abilities, replacing outdated components like transmitters and radios to guarantee continuous and reliable connectivity.
While specific details about the new HPTS-M equipment have not been disclosed, a pre-solicitation notice released by the U.S. Department of Defense in 2024 highlighted Collins as the “only known qualified, responsible source” capable of meeting the project’s requirements. This exclusivity reinforces the company’s pivotal role in enhancing the operational capacity of the Navy’s E-6B aircraft.
Collins Aerospace will carry out the work at its facility in Richardson, Texas, with an anticipated completion of related tasks by June 2027. The Naval Air Systems Command, based in Patuxent River, Maryland, will oversee the contract execution.
In conjunction with the modernization efforts, the Navy announced plans in 2025 to expand its training program for prospective E-6B Mercury pilots. These courses will take place in Oklahoma, where a significant portion of the Navy’s E-6B airframes are operated and maintained.
Moreover, as part of a broader strategy to modernize its fleet, the military revealed the introduction of the “E-130J,” which will eventually succeed the aging E-6B aircraft. The E-130J, inspired by the C-130J-30 Super Hercules tactical transport aircraft, is expected to enhance the Navy’s overall operational effectiveness. Plans indicate that the Navy aims to deploy nine of these new systems by 2028.
In a separate initiative, the U.S. Air Force is also advancing a program to address gaps within its own E-4B doomsday fleet, originally commissioned in the 1970s. The service confirmed that four new platforms, designated as “E-4Cs,” are in various stages of development, indicating a continuing commitment across branches of the military to bolster command and control capabilities in the face of evolving threats.
