The United States Navy has signed a $20.3 million contract with Collins Aerospace to upgrade the high-power communication systems of the E-6B aircraft, known as “Doomsday Planes”.
The agreement includes the production and delivery of three transmitter upgrade kits, strengthening the strategic capability of the fleet responsible for critical nuclear command and control missions.
The work will be carried out in Richardson, Texas, with completion expected by June 2027, utilizing resources from the Navy’s aircraft acquisition budget for fiscal year 2026. The contract modification was granted without competition and is part of an already established agreement, managed by the Naval Air Systems Command, in Maryland.
Responsible for ensuring secure communications between U.S. leadership and strategic forces such as ballistic missile submarines, the E-6B has undergone gradual updates to maintain its operational relevance.
The current improvements focus on very low-frequency transmission equipment and other specialized systems, the technical details of which have not been disclosed for security reasons.
Source: Defence Blog | Photo: X @CollinsAero | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
