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US Navy accepts first C-130J-30 for conversion into E-130J Phoenix II nuclear command aircraft

The U.S. Navy has accepted the first newly built C-130J-30 Super Hercules from Lockheed Martin for conversion into the E-130J Phoenix II. The aircraft will support the TACAMO mission, providing strategic command, control and communications in support of U.S. nuclear forces.

Discovered 2026-10-17T22:28:12.042597-07:00 | 2026-10-17T22:28:12.042597-07:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

This acceptance is the first hardware milestone for the Navy’s E-130J Phoenix II program; the C-130J-30 must still be converted into the mission aircraft.
The program will modernize TACAMO, the Navy mission for strategic communications with U.S. nuclear forces. The aircraft is intended to take on a mission currently performed by the E-6B Mercury.

Reported By

Air Data News war.gov aeromagazine.uol.com.br