Why Do the US and Russia Continue to Develop Doomsday Planes?

WASHINGTON – War Russia against Ukraine sparked enormous tensions in Europe bringing much discussion about World War III and the possible use of nuclear weapons in a hypothetical conflict between Russia and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

If this did happen – something that would have the most devastating impact on humanity – then certain types of aircraft would play an important role in a nuclear conflict. That sparked talk about the Airborne Command Post, the so-called doomsday plane.

The mission of this aircraft is to maintain the chain of command between the country’s leader and general staff commander with the military responsible for launching thousands of nuclear weapons owned by both countries.

These planes are truly flying war rooms, equipped with secure radios, antennas, data networks and satellite communications systems to ensure the president and his staff can still respond to a nuclear attack.

Moscow and Washington have two models for such a mission. The Russian Air Force operates the Ilyushin Il-80 Maxdome, while the US Air Force has the E-4B Nightwatch manufactured by Boeing.

Why Do the US and Russia Continue to Develop Doomsday Planes?

Nightwatch Boeing E-4B

Photo/USAF

Launching aeroflap, the most famous doomsday plane, the E-4B Nightwatch is the US Air Force’s forward air command post. In the event of a nuclear attack, US leaders and members of the National Command Authority (NCA) would coordinate troop movements and, most importantly, use the nuclear missiles in the US arsenal.

The E-4 appeared in the 1970s as the E-4A to replace the EC-135J which had the same mission. The aircraft is based on the 747-200 Jumbo passenger jet, as well as the VC-25, better known as Air Force One, and confusion between the two models is common. Over time, this aircraft was updated and received the designation E-4B, which is still in use today.

The aircraft was extensively modified, accepting a range of instruments such as VHF, UHF, SHF, VLF radio, data links, direct and secure communications, telephone exchange lines, computers and data processing equipment, and satellite communications. The aircraft can accommodate a full crew of 112 service members – the most of any USAF aircraft – in addition to other passengers.

The Nightwatch also gets a large antenna on the back, just behind the cockpit. The entire air conditioning system receives CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear) filters and the aircraft is protected from electromagnetic waves, in addition to having a self-protection circuit with chaff and flare. The E-4B is also capable of refueling in flight, allowing it to fly for days.

Internally, the E-4 is divided into the cockpit, crew rest room, conference room, briefing room, NCA room (where the president, his team and staff commanders are located), operations team room, communications command and control room, technical control section and one rest area again, at the end of the fuselage. In the area of ​​technical control, the USAF military handed over general staff command and executive power to missile operators.