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.
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.
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?
