![]() It provides survivable, reliable, and endurable airborne command, control and communications between the National Command Authority and U.S. The E-6B is a communications relay and strategic airborne command post aircraft. The aircraft will help reduce an estimated 600 flight hours and 2,400 landings/cycles per year from the E-6 mission aircraft. ![]() The goal is to have it out to the fleet in 2024. The aircraft will undergo a modification before coming to Naval Air Station Patuxent River for flight testing. “It’s a big win for the entire E-6 community.” “This team has done a great job of moving quickly and capitalizing on this opportunity,” Scott said. Members of the program office went to Louisiana at the end of February to inspect the condition of the aircraft as they moved closer to acquiring it. When the funds became available in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, the team moved fast. Those options have included leasing several different commercial aircraft as well as using the mission-capable aircraft.įor the past several years, the program has been looking for a dedicated trainer and found one when the Royal Air Force decided to retire their fleet of E-3Ds.īoth the E-3 and E-6 are militarized versions of the Boeing 707. Since the E-6’s inception over three decades ago, the Navy has looked for ways to train pilots and keep them up to date on the airframe. “This is a great chance to work with the United Kingdom and bring a much-needed aircraft to the fleet.” “The training flights expose mission aircraft to significant wear-and-tear and impact their readiness and availability,” said Capt. ![]() The program office had been looking to acquire a dedicated training aircraft for the fleet to take the strain off using the current mission-capable E-6 aircraft. The Airborne Strategic Command, Control, and Communications Program Office (PMA-271) purchased a retired Royal Air Force E-3D for $15 million that will be used as an E-6B Mercury pilot training aircraft. ![]()
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