A C-130J-30 Super Hercules lands at a Lockheed Martin facility in Marietta, Georgia, in October 2026 as part of the US Navy’s Take Charge And Move Out (TACAMO) program. It will eventually be converted into the future E-130J Phoenix II. (Courtesy of Lockheed Martin)

US Navy Received First C-130J-30 Super Hercules for ‘TACAMO’ Transition

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The new aircraft, soon to be rebuilt as the “E-130J Phoenix II,” provides a backup network of US Navy communications in the event of a debilitating first strike.

The US Navy has officially received the first C-130J-30 Super Hercules to the United States Navy that will be modified to serve as the first E-130J Phoenix II. This platform will replace its aging E-6B Mercury aircraft in the “Take Charge and Move Out” (TACAMO) mission.

The US Navy will receive 31 Phoenix II strategic communication aircraft. The new C-130J-30 will be at least the 18th separate variant of the famed C-130 Hercules.

The C-130J-30 is the already-stretched version of the legacy tactical airlifter, featuring a 15-foot-long extension to its fuselage, which increased its cargo capacity along with operational versatility. It will provide the service with a widely produced, reliable, long-endurance four-engine aircraft that can be outfitted with the advanced avionics and critical upgrades to fulfill........

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