The team responsible for improving modification times on the U.S. Navy’s critical E-6B Mercury fleet shared how “Get Real, Get Better” behaviors paved the way for their success in this week’s all new episode of AirWaves.
The U.S. Navy this summer accepted the first Block II E-6B Mercury upgraded entirely by Northrop Grumman Corp., an initiative that is slashing modification times thanks to Get Real, Get Better practices implemented by the Airborne Strategic Command, Control and Communications Program Office (PMA-271).
Extensive teamwork and coordination recently delivered new communications equipment for aviators conducting missions in support of our nation’s nuclear command, control and communications.
The equipment will allow the E-6B Mercury to conduct troubleshooting, maintenance, security requirements and upgrades from the ground, saving flight hours, fuel and money. The result is a greater number of mission-capable aircraft, ready to deploy at a moment’s notice.
The U.S. Navy this month accepted the first E-6B Mercury upgraded by Northrop Grumman Corp. in Lake Charles, delivering enhanced airborne strategic communication capabilities to the warfighter.
The upgrade supports the Navy's nuclear deterrence mission, ensuring the president, secretary of defense and U.S. Strategic Command remain connected to the U.S. nuclear arsenal in a worst-case scenario.
Two Program Executive Office (PEO) Air Anti-submarine Warfare, Assault and Special Mission (A) programs were recognized during a Jan. 25 Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) Commander’s Awards ceremony.
“The competition was fierce but you went above and beyond in delivering the capability, availability, and affordability that our warfighter needs,” said RDML John Dougherty IV, commander, NAWCAD.
The Airborne Strategic Command, Control, and Communications program office’s (PMA-271) Chief Engineer, Matt Guernsey was selected as Individual Achievement in Engineering in the Department of Defense’s 2022 Defense Acquisition Workforce Awards.
“Matt is a brilliant leader with the vision to tackle exceptionally difficult challenges, formulate technically sound strategies and inspire his teams to achieve greatness,” said Capt. Adam Scott, PMA-271 program manager.
The first E-6B Mercury arrived at Northrop Grumman Corporation’s Aircraft Maintenance and Fabrication Center in Lake Charles, Louisiana for Block II modification earlier this month.
The work is part of an Integrated Modification and Maintenance Contract (IMMC) awarded in February, which focuses on fielding improved airborne strategic communications sooner.
The E-6B Mercury provides an important link in the nation’s strategic nuclear deterrence. It allows survivable communication between the president and the triad of nuclear weapon systems – bombers, missile fields, and ballistic missile submarines.
Sustaining this mission while preparing for the future is becoming even more important as global competition grows.
And for all of those reasons, we’re in!
The airborne command, control, and communications community came together for a contest during the last few months. The idea was to stimulate innovative thinking and allow anyone the opportunity to pitch their ideas on how to make the community better.
The goal was to select two promising ideas that could move to prototype in fiscal year 2022.
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.
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.
