NASC contract for TACAMO VLF system

On 22 February 2022, the Naval Air Systems Command (NASC) awarded Collins Aerospace of Cedar Rapids (IA) a USD48,3 million contract for 'developmental design and risk reduction engineering efforts for airborne very low frequency (VLF) systems modernisation in support of Airborne Strategic Command, Control, and Communications Program Office (PMA-271) programme capability requirements'. The contract work is expected to be completed in March 2024.

The VLF system would be installed on the Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules, which is planned by the US Navy to assume the TACAMO ('Take Charge and Move Out') strategic communications role back from the Boeing E-6B Mercury. The US Navy got the Airborne National Command Post (ANCP) role after the Cold War from the US Air Force, who used the EC-135 'Looking Glass'. This ANCP was role was incorporated into the Mercury with the installation of the Airborne Launch Control System (ALCS), combining the TACAMO and ALCS in one platform. The TACAMO role has been performed for three decades by the E-6B.

In the early 1960s, the US Navy performed the TACAMO role with four EC-130G Hercules aircraft. These were later augmented by eighteen newer EC-130Q aircraft. The Mercury replaced the EC-130Q with Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron (VQ) 3 and Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron (VQ) 4.

TACAMO aircraft are equipped with a long trailing-wire antenna used to relay very low frequency radio messages to submerged ballistic-missile submarines. The airframes go through considerable stress as they maintain a high angle of bank for prolonged periods to maintain tight orbits to wind the trailing-wire antenna into a vertical position, needed for the radio waves to penetrate the water most effectively.

On 6 January 2021, Scramble Magazine reported on the new C-130 TACAMO. The US Naval Air Systems Command TACAMO Programme Office (PMA-271) issued a Request for Information (RFI) to industries on 18 December 2020. With this RFI, the US Navy “intends to negotiate and award sole-source contracts to Lockheed Martin Corporation, Marietta (GA), for the efforts associated with the procurement of up to three C-130J-30 green airframes in fiscal 2022/2023 for testing and analysis.

The US Navy used the following EC-130G and EC-130Q TACAMO aircraft:

EC-130G (3x)
BuNo 151888 (c/n 282-3849), stored at Tucson (AZ)
BuNo 151889 (c/n 282-3858), scrapped at Cherry Point (NC)
BuNo 151890 (c/n 282-3871), w/o 15jan72
EC-130Q (18x)
BuNo 156170 (c/n 382-4239), stored at Tucson (AZ)
BuNo 156171 (c/n 382-4249), stored at Tucson (AZ)
BuNo 156172 (c/n 382-4269), stored at Tucson (AZ)
BuNo 156173 (c/n 382-4277), stored at Tucson (AZ)
BuNo 156174 (c/n 382-4278), stored at Tucson (AZ)
BuNo 156175 (c/n 382-4279), stored at Tucson (AZ)
BuNo 156176 (c/n 382-4280), w/o 21jun77
BuNo 156177 (c/n 382-4281), stored at Tucson (AZ)
BuNo 159348 (c/n 382-4601), preserved at Tinker AFB (OK)
BuNo 159469 (c/n 382-4595), sold to CAE Canada for J-models simulators
BuNo 160608 (c/n 382-4781), to Koninklijke Luchtmacht (KLu, RNLAF) as as G-781
BuNo 161223 (c/n 382-4867), dump Cherry Point (NC)
BuNo 161494 (c/n 382-4896), stored at Wallops Island (VA)
BuNo 161495 (c/n 382-4901), to civil as N130FF
BuNo 161496 (c/n 382-4904), to civil as N134CG
BuNo 161531 (c/n 382-4932), to civil as N402CH
BuNo 162312 (c/n 382-4984), to civil as N130AR
BuNo 162313 (c/n 382-4988), to Koninklijke Luchtmacht (KLu, RNLAF) as G-988

Photo by Don Gilham (via AirHistory.net)