Naval Air Systems Command intends to modify a retired Boeing-built E-3D Sentry airborne warning and control system aircraft the military branch procured from the British air force for $15 million.
NAVAIR said Wednesday its airborne strategic command, control and communications program office will repurpose the recently acquired AWACS platform into an E-6B communications relay and strategic airborne command post aircraft for training use.
E-6B Mercury airplanes are designed to help U.S. strategic and non-strategic forces communicate with the National Command Authority.
The command’s PMA-271 personnel conducted an E-3D material inspection before the program office made a procurement decision and the team expects to deploy the future trainer to the fleet by October 2023.
NAVAIR estimates that the E-6 aircraft will cut the number of flight hours by 600 and the number of landings or cycles by 2,400 annually.