E-6 Mercury TACAMO vs EC-135 / EC-18 ARIA
Overview
The E-6 Mercury TACAMO and the EC-135 / EC-18 ARIA are both Military Special Mission Aircraft, manufactured by Boeing and Boeing respectively.
Top speed is 966 km/h for the E-6 Mercury TACAMO vs 927 km/h for the EC-135 / EC-18 ARIA. The E-6 Mercury TACAMO has an operational range of 12,000 km vs 8,300 km for the EC-135 / EC-18 ARIA. The E-6 Mercury TACAMO operates at altitudes up to 12,192 m compared to 10,058 m for the EC-135 / EC-18 ARIA.
The E-6 Mercury TACAMO has been produced in 16 units vs 45 for the EC-135 / EC-18 ARIA. Unit cost is $141M for the E-6 Mercury TACAMO vs $150M for the EC-135 / EC-18 ARIA. The EC-135 / EC-18 ARIA first flew 26 years before the E-6 Mercury TACAMO (1961 vs 1987).
| American command-and-control aircraft, operative during the Cold War era, kept primarily for communications with U.S. nuclear forces. | |
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| Origin country | 🇺🇸 United States |
| Category | Military Special Mission Aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Boeing |
| First flight | 19 February 1987 |
| Year introduced | 1989 |
| Number produced | 16 units |
| Average unit price | $141 million |
| American electronic surveillance and relay aircraft, involved largely in Cold War and Space Race-era operations. | |
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| Origin country | 🇺🇸 United States |
| Category | Military Special Mission Aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Boeing |
| First flight | 1 January 1961 |
| Year introduced | 1968 |
| Number produced | 45 units |
| Average unit price | $150 million |
| Wing area | -- m² |
| Wingspan | 45.2 m ◉ |
| Height | 12.9 m ◉ |
| Length | 45.8 m ◉ |
| Maximum speed | 966 km/h ◉ |
| Operational range | 12,000 km ◉ |
| Service ceiling | 12,192 m ◉ |
| Max. takeoff weight | 155,128 kg ◉ |
| Empty weight | 78,378 kg ◉ |
| Total thrust | 4 x 2,803 kgf ◉ |
| Wing area | 223.0 m² |
| Wingspan | 31.6 m ◉ |
| Height | 12.7 m ◉ |
| Length | 43.1 m ◉ |
| Maximum speed | 927 km/h ◉ |
| Operational range | 8,300 km ◉ |
| Service ceiling | 10,058 m ◉ |
| Max. takeoff weight | 136,304 kg ◉ |
| Empty weight | 44,663 kg ◉ |
| Total thrust | 4 x 2,041 kgf ◉ |
Performance Radar Chart
Detailed Comparison
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