Lockheed Martin delivered a C-130J-30 Super Hercules aircraft at its Marietta facility Oct. 15 for conversion into the U.S. Navy’s next-generation airborne nuclear command-and-control support platform.
The aircraft will become the E-130J Phoenix II, supporting the Navy’s Take Charge and Move Out mission, known as TACAMO. It will be transferred to Northrop Grumman, the mission systems integrator, for conversion.
According to Lockheed Martin, the four-engine C-130J-30 provides the endurance, range and payload capacity needed for the mission. The conversion will add communications and survivability enhancements.
“This delivery marks a historic milestone for the U.S. Navy, Lockheed Martin, and the nation’s strategic communications network,” said Trish Pagan, vice president of Lockheed Martin’s Air Mobility & Maritime Missions. “The C-130J-30 Super Hercules continues to evolve and adapt to the needs of our customers, carrying the proven reliability of its lineage while transforming into a new, strategic mission set. It is built to deliver the capabilities our joint force demands and built to last through any operational challenge.”
The delivery reconnects the Hercules aircraft family with the TACAMO mission. Lockheed Martin said Hercules aircraft previously supported the mission from 1963 until 1993.
“The C-130J platform has a storied history supporting our strategic communications mission, and accepting this first C-130J-30 marks an exciting new chapter,” said U.S. Navy Capt. Roger Davis, Airborne Strategic Command, Control and Communications program manager (PMA-271). “Lockheed Martin’s delivery of this battle-proven airframe provides the structural and performance backbone our mission requires as we transition into mission systems integration to field the E-130J Phoenix II.”
The release did not provide a date for completion of the conversion or the aircraft’s entry into service.
The C-130J Super Hercules also serves in transport, search-and-rescue, firefighting, medical evacuation and special operations roles, according to Lockheed Martin.
Editor’s note: AI was used in the production of this article. To read about how, when and why we make use of AI, read our article “How, When and Why the Cobb County Courier uses AI.”