E-6 Mercury

The E-6 Mercury is a military aircraft used by the United States Navy for communication and command and control (C2) missions. It is a modified version of the Boeing 707 airliner, which has been modified to carry specialized communication and control equipment. The E-6 Mercury is operated by the Navy’s Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron 3 (VQ-3) and Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron 4 (VQ-4), which are based at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma and Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska, respectively.

It is equipped with a number of communication systems that allow it to transmit and receive information from other aircraft, ships, and ground stations. It can also carry a variety of other sensors and electronic warfare equipment, depending on the mission. The E-6 Mercury is typically used for communication relay and command and control missions, helping to maintain communication links between ground forces and other aircraft in areas where traditional communication systems may be compromised or unavailable.

The E-6 Mercury has a crew of 22, including a pilot, copilot, and 20 mission crew members. It is powered by four turbofan engines and has a range of over 6,000 miles (9,700 kilometers). The E-6 Mercury has been in service with the Navy since the late 1980s, and has undergone several upgrades over the years to improve its capabilities and performance.