Airplanes

US Air Force grants $13 billion contract for next-gen ‘Doomsday plane’

  • The new ‘doomsday plane’ will replace the Boeing E-4B Nightwatch
  • A $13 billion contract has been granted to Sierra Nevada Corp
  • The new ‘doomsday plane’ is expected to be finished by July 10, 2036

Published on Apr 29, 2024 at 3:53 PM (UTC+4)
by Nalin Rawat

Last updated on Apr 30, 2024 at 5:58 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by Tom Wood

The US Air Force has granted a $13 billion contract for a next-gen ‘Doomsday plane’.

There’s no need to panic though as it isn’t due to any ongoing conflicts or the start of World War III.

It is just to replace the aging 1970s-era E-4B Nightwatch ‘Doomsday planes’.

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The US Air Force granted the $13 billion contract to Sierra Nevada Corp.

They are now in charge of developing and building the Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC).

This new ‘Doomsday plane’ will succeed the Boeing E-4B Advanced Airborne Command Post (AACP) that serves as the current ‘Nightwatch’.

The US Air Force plans to give $59 million to Sierra Nevada to start work on the aircraft immediately.

This money will also cover the research, development, test, and evaluation funds spent on the aircraft.

US-Air-Force-Boeing-E-4B-Doomsday-plane
Wikipedia Commons

The SAOC ‘Doomsday plane’ is also expected to be finished by July 10, 2036.

According to the US Air Force, Sierra Nevada will build the new SAOC out of a modified commercial aircraft.

“The development of this critical national security weapon system ensures the department’s nuclear command, control, and communications capability is operationally relevant and secure for decades to come,” an Air Force spokesperson said.

The current Boeing E-4B Nightwatch planes typically transport the U.S. Secretary of Defense.

However, the E-4B ‘Doomsday plane’ can act as a mobile command post capable of withstanding nuclear blasts.

Boeing-E-4B-Nightwatch-Doomsday-plane
Wikipedia Commons

These planes also allow the US president to direct forces in the event of a nuclear war or a national emergency.

The Boeing E-4B is also capable of refueling mid-air.

The US Air Force currently operates four E-4B ‘Doomsday planes’ based on a highly modified Boeing 747-200 jumbo jet.

However, they have been in service since the 1970s.

Unfortunately, they are also expected to reach the end of their service life in the early 2030s.

Let’s just hope we don’t have a nuclear war before then.

Or ever, for that matter.

Let’s just never have a nuclear war, OK?

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Nalin started his career by working with various national newspapers in India. He has also worked as a writer/editor for many popular websites, while still pursuing his journalism and mass communication degree. Working as a digital nomad has allowed him to inform and educate through his work. When he is not writing, you can find him playing video games or travelling the mountains on his bike.