IMMC for US Navy Mercury fleet
On 3 March 2022, Mary Petryszyn, corporate vice president and president of Defense Systems at Northrop Grumman Corporation, stated that the company was recently awarded the Integrated Modification and Maintenance Contract (IMMC) for the US Navy’s E-6B Mercury airborne command post and communications relay aircraft.
Over the next five years, Northrop Grumman will perform modifications to the E-6B improving command, control and communications functions that connect the national command authority with the United States’ Nuclear Triad.
The company will establish a consolidated production line for core modifications required under the USD111 million contract. Northrop Grumman may also take on additional, smaller modifications and select depot maintenance tasks as required.
The sixteen aircraft Mercury fleet is divided over three units; Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron (VQ) 3 Ironmen and Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron (VQ) 4 Shadows at Tinker AFB (OK) and Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 20 Force at NAS Patuxent River (MD).
Photo by vincentboyer953 (via jetphotos.com)