Dave's Not Here! ⭐⭐⭐ @[email protected] @SLAG @Andre @Teeeye81

A series of toots regarding air-sub communication prompted me to post about this subject. This is relevant given the communications capabilities of one of the aircraft that performs this role.

I have some knowledge of this particular platform from my days in aerospace. So here we go, another recycled thread!

THREAD

Recollections and Speculations Regarding the E-6B Mercury.

1 1h

Dave's Not Here! ⭐⭐⭐ @[email protected] @SLAG @Andre @Teeeye81

Background: I worked on updating an E-6B training system for the US Navy circa 2009-2010 when I worked at Boeing. My part was small yet significant to the overall project. Moreover, it was informative since I didn't know much about this particular aircraft. In other words it was an interesting learning experience, some of which I will recount now.

1 1h

Dave's Not Here! ⭐⭐⭐ @[email protected] @SLAG @Andre @Teeeye81

So...

You down wit E-6B? Yeah, you know me!

1 59m

Dave's Not Here! ⭐⭐⭐ @[email protected] @SLAG @Andre @Teeeye81

This particular effort was to add a Digital Flight Data Acquisition Unit (DFDAU) and it's associated updates to the E-6B. The DFDAU isn't the "Black Box" that is typically located in the tail. It is located in the Forward Lower Lobe of the aircraft close to the cockpit. The DFDAU...acquires flight data on the aircraft and sends selected parameters to the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) in the tail.

1 59m

Dave's Not Here! ⭐⭐⭐ @[email protected] @SLAG @Andre @Teeeye81

So to summarize:

DFDAU: In fusalage near cockpit. Weighs almost nothing and is painted dark gray. FDR: In the tail; VERY heavy and painted orange.

1 58m

Dave's Not Here! ⭐⭐⭐ @[email protected] @SLAG @Andre @Teeeye81

PRO TIP: DON'T DROP THE FDR! It won't harm the FDR if the drop is anything less than 36,000 feet, but whatever it lands on won't fare well.

1 58m

Dave's Not Here! ⭐⭐⭐ @[email protected] @SLAG @Andre @Teeeye81

My role was to update the MOMIs (Manual Of Maintenance Instructions) for the device. This was a series of about two dozen volume of everything you ever wanted to know about an E-6B maintenance training device but were afraid to ask. As an aside, this is where I became an Expert at Word. No brag, just fact.

1 58m

Dave's Not Here! ⭐⭐⭐ @[email protected] @SLAG @Andre @Teeeye81

So I did a lot of updating, editing, and other technical writing activities for this project. Also facilitated a fair number of peer review sessions between engineering communities. Billed about half my hours to the project for over 18 months, it kept a lot of us busy.

The aircraft itself is almost unknown but is impressive.

1 58m

Dave's Not Here! ⭐⭐⭐ @[email protected] @SLAG @Andre @Teeeye81

The airframes were the last 707/C-135 ones built, rolling out of Renton back in the early 90s. Nothing noteworthy except that they have the same CFM-56 engines as the 737 and other late-model E-3s and KC-135Rs. It what is inside that makes all the difference.

1 57m

Dave's Not Here! ⭐⭐⭐ @[email protected] @SLAG @Andre @Teeeye81

The E-6 is a command and communications aircraft that was designed for the Take Charge and Move Out (TACAMO) mission for the US Navy. Back in the 60s, the US Navy needed a way to communicate with their SSBNs (Boomers) in the event of nuclear war with the Soviet Union. Originally, converted C-130s served this role but when their service life came to an end...in came the E-6A.

No, that was not a typo!

1 57m

Dave's Not Here! ⭐⭐⭐ @[email protected] @SLAG @Andre @Teeeye81

The E-6A Hermes could communicate with USN SSBNs. Later, it was upgraded to the E-6B Mercury, which received a glass cockpit like the 737. The bigger change was receiving the communications equipment to launch USAF ICMBs. The E-6B took over the LOOKING GLASS mission from USAF EC-135s circa 1998 and continues to this day.

1 57m

Dave's Not Here! ⭐⭐⭐ @[email protected] @SLAG @Andre @Teeeye81

That means the E-6B has Ultra-Low Frequency radios that can communicate with submerged subs via a 4km antenna. It also has all the necessary equipment to communicate with USAF ICBM sites located on land. That means it has multiple sets of gear that work together. You see where this is going? It gets better...

1 56m

Dave's Not Here! ⭐⭐⭐ @[email protected] @SLAG @Andre @Teeeye81

Not only can it communicate with both ballistic missile launch systems (land and sea-based), it can talk to just about any other military communication system. Think of it as a big flying switchboard that can take calls from almost any radio-based system. This makes it useful not just during a nuclear war, but during operations between various branches of the US military (.gov too?).

1 56m

Dave's Not Here! ⭐⭐⭐ @[email protected] @SLAG @Andre @Teeeye81

I'm not privy to the details of these systems, but I have it on good authority that the E-6B is one of the ultimate pieces of military communications hardware on planet Earth.

1 56m

Dave's Not Here! ⭐⭐⭐ @[email protected] @SLAG @Andre @Teeeye81

The normal operational plan would be for two planes to be up at all times, one over the Atlantic and one over the Pacific. For quite a while though, only one would be flying at a time; slowly orbiting and waiting for a signal nobody wants to receive.

1 55m

Dave's Not Here! ⭐⭐⭐ @[email protected] @SLAG @Andre @Teeeye81

Before, during, and after the election though; these aircraft have been flying over land and especially...population centers.

Why?

1 55m

Dave's Not Here! ⭐⭐⭐ @[email protected] @SLAG @Andre @Teeeye81

SPECULATION

I think these aircraft are being used to coordinate, gather, and transmit information for ongoing military operations taking place over CONUS. They could also be working with other .gov agencies too but I am less sure of that. Regardless, this mission makes sense in light of the aircraft's capabilities. They probably won't be used for bulk collection and transmission, but for secure short-term missions; it makes sense.

1 54m

Dave's Not Here! ⭐⭐⭐ @[email protected] @SLAG @Andre @Teeeye81

After all; you have USAF, USN, Army, USMS, and Coast Guard (!) aircraft flying all over the CONUS at a relatively high operational tempo. Need to coordinate it all? The E-6B is on-deck to handle that mission.

1 54m

Dave's Not Here! ⭐⭐⭐ @[email protected] @SLAG @Andre @Teeeye81

Oh, have sensitive data that you don't want to send over civilian networks? Oh, the E-6B can help you out there too. Securely too!

1+ 54m

Dave's Not Here! ⭐⭐⭐ @[email protected] @SLAG @Andre @Teeeye81

Need to coordinate thousands of small, independent .mil and .gov teams for critical missions? Well, you now know who is able to help out...

1 54m

Dave's Not Here! ⭐⭐⭐ @[email protected] @SLAG @Andre @Teeeye81

Normally, we would not see these aircraft over land unless they were on their way to their patrol areas over water. Yet, these are not normal times. Their flight paths show this and the fact civilians like us can see that is a bit of a clue. Aircraft can turn off their transponders and/or transmit false data at the flick of a switch. That this information is available is telling. No fear on the part of .mil it seems.

1 54m

Dave's Not Here! ⭐⭐⭐ @[email protected] @SLAG @Andre @Teeeye81

Where this leads, I have no idea. We are seeing highly unusual flight activity though during a demonstrably non-normal time. Devolution and the associated CONPLANs are looking more likely to me as time goes by. We definitely live in interesting times.

END

1+

Dave's Not Here! ⭐⭐⭐ @[email protected] Follow @SLAG @Andre @Teeeye81

ADDENDUM

A few of the old-timers told me a bit more about the capabilities of the aircraft and its relevance. Back when I was at Boeing the focus was on the GWOT, not thermonuclear war or a shadow WW3 as some have discussed here. The secret sauce in the E-6B is it's ability to communicate with all US (and presumably allied) systems in a secure manner. That's a unique and expensive capability that can come in handy in many different missions.

December 21, 2021, 4:23 PM · · Web · 0 · 1 · 2