Summary: The U.S. Air Force has awarded a $13 billion contract to Sierra Nevada Corp. (SNC) to develop a new Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC), set to replace the aging E-4B Nightwatch, also known as the "Doomsday plane".

The SAOC project, planned through July 2036, will likely use commercial airliners from the used 747 market for its fleet of 8-10 aircraft. This move comes as the Air Force focuses on updating its capabilities for nuclear command and control, even while scaling back other programs like the F-15EX and F-35.

The SAOC is seen as crucial for ensuring the U.S. can maintain command in extreme scenarios, featuring advanced protections against electromagnetic pulses and nuclear effects.

U.S. Air Force Invests $13 Billion in New 'Doomsday Plane' Amid Global Tensions

Does the United States Air Force want to tell us something? On Friday, the air service announced that it had awarded a $13 billion contract to Sierra Nevada Corp. (SNC) to develop a successor to the infamous E-4B Nightwatch – the aircraft known as the "Doomsday plane" due to its ability to survive a nuclear confrontation.

The contract for the new Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC) project – which is expected to run through July 2036 – seeks to build a replacement for the aging fleet of four E-4B planes, known as Nightwatch or the National Airborne Operations Center (NAOC). Those aircraft are typically used to transport the United States Secretary of Defense but were also designed to act as a mobile nuclear command and control outpost.

The news that that contract was awarded to SNC was not unexpected. Reuters reported that the U.S. Air Force eliminated Boeing from the competition to develop a successor to the E-4B Nightwatch. However, Boeing aircraft are likely to still serve as the basis for the NAOC replacement.

While SNC's modifications will employ a modular open systems approach, it will still be based around a commercial airliner – and E-4B replacements will likely come from the used 747 market. The Air Force seeks to acquire between eight to 10 aircraft for the SAOC program.

The SAOC has been seen as a priority for the air service, even as it has scaled back other programs including the F-15EX Eagle II and F-35 Lightning II. Under appropriations passed by Congress for fiscal 2024 (FY24), the U.S. Air Force has around $744 million to invest in the SAOC program this year. In its FY25 request, the service is seeking roughly $1.7 billion. Work on the SAOC is expected to be carried out in Colorado, Nevada, and Ohio and is scheduled to be completed in 2036.

Out With the Old – The E4B in the Spotlight

The E4B is a militarized version of the Boeing 747-200, four-engine, swept-wing, long-range high-altitude airplane. It is capable of refueling in flight.

The E-4 took over the mission of the EC-135 flying command post aircraft in 1974, and by the mid-1980s all had been updated to the B models. According to Interesting Engineering, the main deck is divided into six functional areas: a command work area, a conference room, a briefing room, an operations team work area, a communications area, and rest area. An E-4B may include seating for up to 111 people, including a joint-service operations team, Air Force flight crew, a maintenance and security component, and a communications team.

All E-4B aircraft are assigned to the 595th Command and Control Group at the Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, which is aligned under the Eight Air Force. The aircraft carries 13 external communications systems and is designed for missions lasting 72 hours. At least one plane is always on 24-hour alert, seven days a week with a global watch team at one of many selected bases throughout the world. The NAOC operations team is made up of joint personnel including Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines with a variety of specialties.

Each of the aircraft is protected against the effects of electromagnetic pulse and features electrical systems designed to support advanced electronics as well as a wide variety of communications equipment. There are also nuclear and thermal effects shielding, which can protect the aircraft in a true doomsday scenario.

The future "Doomsday Plane" is expected to be even more capable.

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].