Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) delivered a C-130J-30 Super Hercules aircraft to the U.S. Navy on Oct. 15 at its Marietta, Georgia, facility. The aircraft is slated to be converted into the E-130J Phoenix II, the Navy's next-generation platform for the Take Charge and Move Out (TACAMO) mission, which provides airborne nuclear command-and-control support.

The aircraft will be transferred to Northrop Grumman, the mission systems integrator, where it will undergo conversion before entering service as the E-130J Phoenix II.

The delivery revives a connection between the Hercules aircraft family and the TACAMO mission. The earlier EC-130Q variant served in the same role from 1963 until 1993. The new platform is described as incorporating updated avionics, communications systems, and survivability features.

Trish Pagan, vice president of Lockheed Martin's Air Mobility & Maritime Missions, said in a statement: "The C-130J-30 Super Hercules continues to evolve and adapt to the needs of our customers, carrying the proven reliability of its lineage while transforming into a new, strategic mission set."

U.S. Navy Capt. Roger Davis, Airborne Strategic Command, Control and Communications program manager (PMA-271), said: "Lockheed Martin's delivery of this battle-proven airframe provides the structural and performance backbone our mission requires as we transition into mission systems integration to field the E-130J Phoenix II."

The information is based on a press release issued by Lockheed Martin Aeronautics.