Rockwell Collins delivered the first installation of the Block I modification to the U.S. Navy’s E-6B Mercury aircraft on February 25, 2009. Navy officials, Rockwell Collins senior leaders and L-3 Communications leadership celebrated the milestone during a roll-out ceremony held at the L-3 Integrated Systems facility in Waco, Texas.
The Block I Modification features an open system architecture for mission avionics, a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Intercommunications System (ICS) and an on-aircraft, multi-level secure network for message processing, radio control/monitor and other mission applications. The program also improves the reliability and availability of the Ultra High Frequency Command, Control and Communication (UHF C3) system and enhances the electrical power and cooling systems.
The Navy E-6B aircraft is used to conduct both the “Take Charge and Move Out” (TACAMO) and the United States Strategic Command Airborne Command Post missions, providing reliable and survivable communications between the President of the United States, Secretary of Defense and the U.S. strategic forces. The open solution provided by the Block I modification addresses immediate requirements and enables system expansion in the future.
The Block I Modification solution provides an infrastructure to support moving data on, off and throughout the aircraft even as user bandwidth demands increase in this emerging age of the digital battlespace. The E-6B Block I program also provides a template for transforming additional special mission aircraft to serve key roles in an emerging network centric world.
In 2004, Rockwell Collins was awarded a $79 million contract by NAVAIR PMA-271 to provide upgrades for the Navy’s fleet of E-6B aircraft. The program has a potential value to Rockwell Collins of approximately $300 million over 10 years.