Rockwell Collins selected to upgrade US military's E-4B Advanced Airborne Command Post aircraft

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World Defense & Security Industry News - Rockwell Collins
 
 
 
Rockwell Collins selected to upgrade US military's E-4B Advanced Airborne Command Post aircraft
 
The Boeing Company has selected Rockwell Collins to upgrade a low-frequency transmission system for the E-4B program, which connects U.S. command authorities to strategic launch control centers and strike assets during a national emergency. The work will be performed at Rockwell Collins’ Richardson, Texas, facility and is expected to be complete by Sept. 30, 2016.
     
The Boeing Company has selected Rockwell Collins to upgrade a low-frequency transmission system for the E-4B program, which connects U.S. command authorities to strategic launch control centers and strike assets during a national emergency. The work will be performed at Rockwell Collins’ Richardson, Texas, facility and is expected to be complete by Sept. 30, 2016. Boeing E-4B Advanced Airborne Command Post aircraft
     
This selection continues our heritage of providing the U.S. military with strategic command and control systems,” said Troy Brunk, vice president and general manager, Airborne Solutions for Rockwell Collins. “We’re continuing our strong relationship with Boeing by providing reliable, survivable and endurable communications between the President and our nation’s nuclear forces.


The E-4B Advanced Airborne Command Post is designed to be used by the National Command Authority as a survivable command post for control of U.S. forces in all levels of conflict, including nuclear war. In addition to its primary mission, secondary missions assigned to the E-4B include VIP travel support and Federal Emergency Management Agency support, which provides communications to relief efforts following natural disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes.

Added in 1979 in the E-4 aircraft fleet, this aircraft was fitted with the distinctive “Hump” on the back of the upper deck, housing the SHF antenna. It also offered upgraded accommodations, additional shielding, upgraded electronics and new CF-6-50E2 engines. This became known as the E-4B model.

The B models biggest structural change was the ability to survive an Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) from a nuclear blast. Protection against radiation was also improved.