US Navy names next-gen TACAMO aircraft E-130J Phoenix II, replacing E-6B Mercury

Published on August 11, 2025

The US Navy has officially named its next-generation Take Charge and Move Out (TACAMO) mission aircraft the E-130J Phoenix II, marking a new chapter in the service’s nuclear command and control capabilities.

The announcement was made by the US Navy’s Airborne Strategic Command, Control and Communications Program Office (PMA-271) and Strategic Communications Wing 1 (SCW-1).

The “Phoenix II” name evokes the mythical bird that is reborn from its ashes, symbolizing “immortality, resurrection, and renewal,” qualities the Navy says reflect both the mission and the aircraft’s heritage. 

The designation follows the October 2024 decision to replace the placeholder “E-XX” with “E-130J.”

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