The E-4B: America's Doomsday Plane
Summary
TLDRThe script delves into the Boeing E-4B Nightwatch, a specially designed aircraft serving as the airborne command post for US military leaders in the event of a nuclear war. Equipped with advanced technology to withstand electromagnetic pulses, the E-4B ensures continuity of command and control. Despite its age, the Nightwatch remains a crucial asset, with plans for a replacement in the 2030s to maintain its critical role in national security.
Takeaways
- 🛫 The E4 Advanced Airborne Command Post (AACP), also known as the Night Watch, is a specially designed aircraft for the U.S. military to serve as a command post in the event of a nuclear war.
- 🌏 The Night Watch is kept ready 24/7, 365 days a year on American soil for immediate response to a nuclear electromagnetic pulse (EMP) threat.
- 🛠 Developed in the early '70s, the E4 AACP was created in response to the need for a command post capable of withstanding and operating through the effects of an EMP.
- 💡 The E4's design includes EMP resistance with shielded wiring, heavily insulated equipment, and an analog cockpit to prevent electronic interference.
- ✈️ The E4 B model, an upgrade from the E4 A, features improved communication abilities and a radome for satellite communication, enhancing its strategic command capabilities.
- 🚀 The Night Watch aircraft can stay airborne for up to a week, supported by in-flight aerial refueling, ensuring continuous operation during a crisis.
- 👥 With a crew capacity of over 100, including battle staff and technical control teams, the E4 B is designed to manage and coordinate strategic assets effectively.
- 🔒 The aircraft is equipped with 42 different communication systems, allowing it to maintain contact with the outside world and command U.S. forces even in extreme conditions.
- 🔑 The Night Watch can serve as an executive suite for the President of the United States or other high-ranking officials, providing secure communication and command capabilities.
- 🔄 The E4 B has been in service for over 50 years and, despite its age, continues to be a critical asset for the U.S. government, with plans for a replacement in the early to mid-2030s.
- 🌐 The anticipated replacement, the survivable Airborne operations center, aims to integrate the E4 B's capabilities with modern technology and digitized systems for future operations.
Q & A
What is the primary purpose of the E4 Advanced Airborne Command Post (AACP)?
-The primary purpose of the E4 AACP, also known as the Nightwatch, is to provide a command post for the highest leaders of the American Military in the event of a nuclear war, ensuring the continuity of command and control.
How did the E4 Nightwatch aircraft originate?
-The E4 Nightwatch originated in the early '70s as a response to the need for a command post that could withstand a nuclear electromagnetic pulse (EMP) and maintain operational capabilities during a nuclear conflict.
What was the significance of the Starfish Prime test in 1962?
-The Starfish Prime test in 1962 was significant because it demonstrated the unexpectedly large EMP effects of a high-altitude nuclear detonation, highlighting the vulnerability of electrical systems and the need for EMP-hardened military assets like the E4 Nightwatch.
What is an EMP and why is it a concern for military aircraft?
-An EMP, or nuclear electromagnetic pulse, is a massive burst of electromagnetic radiation that can cause electrical interference and damage to electronic systems. It is a concern for military aircraft because it can disable or destroy their electronic systems, rendering them inoperable during critical missions.
How has the E4 Nightwatch aircraft evolved over time?
-The E4 Nightwatch has evolved over time with improved communication capabilities, EMP hardening, and interior modifications to support a larger crew and more sophisticated equipment. The aircraft has transitioned from the E4A to the E4B model, incorporating advanced technology and systems.
What is the maximum speed and range of the E4B aircraft?
-The E4B aircraft has a maximum speed of approximately 600 mph (about 965 km/h) and a range of 7,100 miles (11,500 km) on a full tank of fuel.
How is the E4B aircraft designed to withstand an EMP?
-The E4B aircraft is designed to withstand an EMP by shielding all wiring from electrical disruption, heavily insulating all onboard equipment, and using analog flight instruments to avoid electronic interference.
What is the role of the E6 Mercury aircraft in relation to the E4B Nightwatch?
-The E6 Mercury aircraft serve as relay stations, receiving orders from the National Command Authority, including the E4B Nightwatch, and transmitting them to ballistic missile submarines at a closer range.
What is the significance of the trailing wire antenna (TWA) on the E4B aircraft?
-The trailing wire antenna (TWA) on the E4B aircraft is essential for maintaining critical communication links, allowing the transmission of signals to America's ballistic missile submarines even under adverse conditions like EMP bursts.
What is the current status of the E4B Nightwatch aircraft and its potential replacement?
-The E4B Nightwatch aircraft is still in active service, having celebrated its 50th anniversary. However, its replacement, the survivable Airborne operations center, is being developed by Sierra Nevada Corporation and is expected to be operational in the early to mid-2030s.
How does the E4B Nightwatch aircraft support the President of the United States during international travel?
-The E4B Nightwatch aircraft flies alongside Air Force One when the President travels internationally, serving as a backup command post and transportation option in case of emergencies.
Outlines
🛩️ The E4 Advanced Airborne Command Post: America's Nuclear War Response
The script introduces the Boeing E4 Advanced Airborne Command Post (ACP), also known as the Night Watch, a specially designed aircraft meant to serve as a command post for the highest leaders of the American Military in the event of a nuclear war. The E4 was developed in the early '70s in response to the threat of nuclear electromagnetic pulses (EMPs), which can cause massive damage to electrical and electronic systems. The E4 is equipped to withstand such an EMP and maintain control over global military operations. The script also discusses the history of EMP awareness in the US, dating back to nuclear bomb testing in 1945, and the significant EMP event from the 'Starfish Prime' test in 1962, which demonstrated the potential for widespread damage from a high-altitude nuclear detonation.
🛫 The Evolution and Capabilities of the E4 Night Watch Aircraft
This paragraph delves into the technical specifications and evolution of the E4 Night Watch aircraft. Initially developed from the Boeing 747-200, the E4 has undergone significant modifications, particularly to its interior, to accommodate over a 100 crew members and advanced communication systems. The aircraft's design includes EMP-hardened features such as shielded wiring and insulated equipment to ensure functionality after a nuclear EMP event. The E4 B model, introduced later, boasts improved communication capabilities and a radome for satellite communication. The aircraft's endurance is highlighted, with the ability to stay airborne for up to a week, supported by aerial refueling. The E4 B's analog cockpit is noted for its EMP resistance, and the aircraft's various features to protect against the consequences of nuclear detonation are detailed.
🌐 Inside the E4 B's Mission Crew and Communication Systems
The script describes the extensive mission crew of the E4 B, which can number up to 108 people, including maintenance crews, analysts, technicians, and senior military personnel. The aircraft is organized into three decks, with the upper deck housing the flight crew's accommodations and a lounge area. The middle deck is the operational core, featuring conference rooms, a projection room, briefing rooms, and the main operations area with 29 consoles. The lower deck contains the galley, rest areas, and specialized communication equipment. The E4 B is equipped with 42 different communication systems, allowing it to connect with any element of the US military and other key communication networks worldwide. It also features a trailing wire antenna for critical communications with strategic nuclear weapons systems.
🔒 The E4 B's Role in National Security and Its Service History
The E4 B's role as a national command aircraft is underscored, with its constant readiness for deployment and its historical use in supporting presidential travel and as a backup to Air Force One. The script mentions the relocation of E4 B crews to Nebraska and the aircraft's involvement in various operations, including its presence during the 9/11 attacks. It also touches on the aircraft's use by the US Secretary of Defense and its potential role in coordinating with FEMA during emergencies. The E4 B's service history is highlighted, noting that despite its age, it remains a critical asset in the US defense strategy.
🛠️ The Future of the E4 B and the Development of the Survivable Airborne Operations Center
The script concludes with a discussion on the future of the E4 B and the development of its replacement, the Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC). The SAOC program, awarded to Sierra Nevada Corporation, aims to create a more digitized and advanced command platform using off-the-shelf components and the 747-8 Intercontinental aircraft. The new platform is expected to integrate with the E6 Mercury fleet and be operational in the early to mid-2030s. The E4 B's legacy is acknowledged, with a focus on its role in preventing nuclear catastrophe and its potential decommissioning once the SAOC is operational.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Advanced Airborne command post (AACp)
💡Nuclear electromagnetic pulse (NEMP)
💡Starfish Prime
💡Electromagnetic pulse (EMP) hardening
💡In-flight aerial refueling
💡National Command Authority (NCA)
💡E6 Mercury
💡Take Charge and Move Out (TCM)
💡E3 Sentry
💡Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC)
💡Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC)
Highlights
The E4 Advanced Airborne command post (AACP), also known as the Night Watch, is a specially designed aircraft for the highest leaders of the American Military in the event of a nuclear war.
The Night Watch was developed in the early '70s alongside other iconic military aircraft due to the combination of new technologies and fears of advanced Soviet warplanes.
Nuclear electromagnetic pulses (EMPs) are a significant threat to electrical systems and can be caused by both natural phenomena and nuclear detonations.
The Starfish Prime test in 1962 demonstrated the unexpected scale of EMPs, leading to the development of aircraft like the Night Watch to withstand such threats.
The EC-135 Looking Glass was the predecessor to the Night Watch, performing continuous airborne command missions but required replacement due to technological limitations.
The Night Watch uses a modified Boeing 747-200 frame, with significant interior and exterior modifications for EMP resistance and advanced communication capabilities.
The aircraft is designed to carry over 100 people, including a mission crew of up to 108, to manage strategic assets and maintain contact with the outside world.
The Night Watch can remain airborne for up to a week, utilizing in-flight aerial refueling from the United States' tanker fleet.
The aircraft features specialized equipment to protect against the consequences of nuclear detonations, including EMP-resistant windows and specialized flight crew gear.
The Night Watch contains a National Command Authority (NCA) zone, designed to house the President of the United States or other high-ranking officials in times of crisis.
The aircraft is equipped with 42 different communication systems, allowing it to connect with any element of the US military and global communication networks.
The Night Watch can collaborate with other aircraft like the E6 Mercury for relaying commands to ballistic missile submarines.
The aircraft has been used for various missions, including accompanying Air Force One on international trips and serving as a mobile command post for FEMA.
Despite its utility, the Night Watch is an aging platform, with discussions for its replacement beginning in 2006 and a new aircraft expected to be operational in the 2030s.
The anticipated replacement, the Survivable Airborne Operations Center, will utilize off-the-shelf components and a digitized approach to systems construction.
Sierra Nevada Corporation is involved in the development of the new aircraft, having purchased used 747-8 Intercontinental models for the project.
The new aircraft aims to integrate capabilities with the E6 Mercury fleet and serve as a command, control, and communication center for executing emergency war orders.
Transcripts
it's the airplane design for the end of
the world kept deep in the American
Island and kept ready 24 hours a day 365
days a year for specially designed
aircraft lie in wait for the moment
Everything Changes they're not meant to
drop bombs they're not meant to ravage
enemy bases and they're not meant to fly
VIPs or at least not usually they're a
fleet uh with exactly one single purpose
to provide a command post for the
highest leaders of the American Military
in the event of nuclear war if all goes
wrong if the Clack and Sirens Roar to
life it'll be the Boeing made US Air
Force operated E4 the night watch that
takes control and from that moment
onward the decisions made inside its
fuselage will change the course of
global
history the E4 Advanced Airborne command
post or aacp was born of the same moment
in American history that saw a range of
iconic military aircraft take to the
skies for the first time alongside the
high performance F-15 Eagle the
Thundering B1 Lancer the tough as Nails
A10 and the gargantuan C5 Galaxy the
ACP better known today as the night
watch was developed and flown for the
first time in the early '70s a
combination of newly available
Technologies on the American side and
fears of Highly advanced war planes that
might soon emerge from the Soviet Union
I prompted a fleetwide set of Evolutions
that's really only been duplicated since
then with the Advent of stealth aircraft
technology but when when it came to the
nightwatch aircraft the driving Factor
behind their conception wasn't just to
do with beating some rival aircraft sent
by Moscow instead the issue at hand was
a new threat the nuclear electromagnetic
pulse or nuclear EMP emps refer to any
massive blast of electromagnetic
radiation and they can come from natural
phenomenon like lightning strikes the
breakup of a meteor as it falls through
the Earth's atmosphere and coronal mass
ejections massive plasma bursts that
eject from the Sun and can sometimes
wash over the Earth they cause
electrical interference that can
temporarily or even permanently damage
electrical systems if they're close
enough to receive a blast of energy and
while minor emps like Ling have largely
been dealt with when it comes to
protecting Modern Hardware major emps
can cause fairly massive damage to
electrical and electronic systems
buildings Airborne means of
transportation like airplanes and more
since the early days of nuclear bomb
testing in 1945 the United States was
already aware that emps were a byproduct
of nuclear detonation but although they
understood the presence of EMP bursts
and their effects they badly
underestimated the scale of the emps
that they could cause the Turning Point
came nearly two decades later when in
July of 1962 America carried out a test
called starfish Prime in that test the
US detonated a bomb of about 1 and a
half megatons yield over the Pacific and
they got a way bigger EMP than they had
expected in Hawai nearly a thousand
miles away from the test hundreds of
street lights were disabled and other
minor but real electrical damage was
recorded that damage was fixed
relatively quickly but as the test
results were analyzed they painted a
more and more for boing picture luckily
for America starfish Prime had taken
place far from the continental US in a
Zone where the magnetic field of the
earth exerted its strength only somewhat
but America's lower 48 states were
another matter entirely the Earth's
magnetic field was a good Bit Stronger
there and if the same Warhead used in
starfish Prime had been detonated at a
similar altitude over the northern us
the effects would been orders of
magnitude worse design a nuclear weapon
designed to create the largest high
altitude EMP burst it could like the
Soviets were almost certain to do once
they did the same mathematical research
America had just done and America was
screwed according to a primer published
by the Federation of American scientists
in the late 1990s a large nuclear device
detonated 4 to 500 kmers High over
Kansas would fry the electrical grid
destroy most forms of modern technology
and send most if not all of the
Continental United States back to the
Industrial Age and not only could such
an EMP by the Soviets be devastating but
it could allow them to gain a strategic
Victory very very quickly crippling
America's defense apparatus and
preventing a nuclear retaliation without
a single death on either side the night
watch wouldn't be the first aircraft
that the US would build to provide an
Airborne strategic command post but
there would be a significant Improvement
on the stop Gap aircraft America had put
into the skies the predecessor to the
night watch was the EC 135 based on
Boeing's c135 Strat lifter and to its
credit the ec135 was a capable platform
for the time in the 60s and70s it
performed so-called Looking Glass
missions with one aircraft flying at all
times 24/7 365 to command nuclear
bombers and ballistic missile silos in
the event that ground command centers
were destroyed or made inoperable but
their data technology and lack of EMP
resistance menant that they needed
replacing sooner rather than later to
answer that call the US Air Force went
to Boeing looking for a few copies of
its biggest and most sophisticated
aircraft at the time the
747-200 Boeing happen to have a couple
on hands built for a commercial customer
who ultimately decided not to complete
their purchase and by the end of 1973
the number was double to four now
because the nightwatch uses the same
frame as a commercial 747 its
construction has less to do with an
Innovative airframe design and more to
do with the interior now not to say that
the plane underwent no changes on the
outside for example the nightwatch
aircraft have a distinctive B a few
dozen feet behind the cockpit that's
where they has a rayome featuring a
steerable satellite Communications
antenna with its more modern updates
enabling Communications with a
constellation of military satellites in
orbit but the bulk of the work was on
building the interior enabling a massive
crew of well over a 100 people to
maintain constant contact with the
outside world and manage incredibly
important strategic assets the first of
the aircraft took its inaugural flight
in June of 1973 and by the time the
third aircraft was delivered to the Air
Force in 19 1974 the planes already had
new engines in 1979 when the fourth
aircraft was finally delivered it was
the first to include that radome on the
top behind the upper deck this kicked
off a change from the early model e4a to
the e4b and within a few more years all
four of the planes were E4 BS outfitted
with vastly improved Communications
ability and some serious hardening
against electromagnetic pulses because
of the rapidly evolving threat
environment that these aircraft face uh
they've never stayed internally stagnant
for more than a couple of years at time
but much of what goes on under the
surface is kept classified from the
outside the e4b aircraft you might see
in the skies today they're almost
totally unchanged from what they were
four decades ago but from what we do
know about their internal systems
they've grown into very impressive
beasts
nonetheless when it comes to the E4 B's
basic specs it's similar for the most
part the classical Boeing 747 with a
full length tip to tail of 231 ft 4 in
or 7 A2 M it boasts a wing span of 195
ft 8 in or a bit under 60 M sitting
empty weighs £410,000 or 1886 metric
tons and it's powered by four General
Electric f103 engines Each of which is
capable of pushing out about 52,000
force of thrust when it's pushing its
limits to maximum speed it can Crest
just over 600 mph 9970 km/ hour or so
and it cruises at nearly the same speed
566 mph or about 900 kmph on a single
tank of fuel it features a range of
7,100 Mi or 11,500 km hitting a maximum
altitude of 45,000 ft or 14,000 M with a
few small discrepancies here and there
that puts the e4b on par with the
747-200 across the board or at least
that's what it looks like but as soon as
we begin talking about the E4 B's
internal modifications it should be
crystal clear that we're talking about a
far more sophisticated piece of
technology here the change at the heart
of the e4b is its hardening against EMP
bursts all wiring on board is shielded
from electrical disruption all on board
equipment is heavily insulated and
although according to public knowledge
this has never been tested the aircraft
should be able to withstand the sort of
nuclear EMP burst that would see the
rest of the United States totally
crippled the cockpit 2o is made to be
invulnerable to emps and as a result
it's forgone the upgraded glass cockpits
of modern aircraft replete with shiny
LCDs and other digital bells of whistles
instead the e4b relies entirely on
analog flight instruments the
oldfashioned way making its own controls
functionally impervious to electronic
interference and then there's the
question of the aircraft's endurance the
iatch is intended to receive inflight
aerial refueling courtesy of the United
States's prodigious tanker Fleet and
it's not modest about his appetite if
it's being refueled by America's
Workhorse tanker aircraft the KC 135
it'll take two full KC 135s to replenish
the E4 B's internal fuel supplies just
once but in the event that the
nightwatch should ever have to fulfill
its primary function the presence of
refueling tankers will be very very
important the e4b is designed to remain
Airborne for a span of up to a full week
at a time equipped with engines that can
fire for weeks at a time and only become
inoperable when they stores of lubricant
run out as long as the fuel keeps coming
e4b can keep flying potentially
providing thorough and complete
coordination of what would be the worst
days in US history up to and including
the world's first reciprocal nuclear EXP
exchange and speaking of nuclear
exchange the aircraft has other features
to guard against the consequences of
Warhead detonation its Windows though
few and far between are covered in a
mesh that prevents electromagnetic shock
waves from blowing them Inward and in
the cockpit the flight crew has access
to specialized Mar that will prevent the
plan's operators from being blinded if
nuclear explosions occur within their
field of vision and inside the aircraft
the nwat carries the largest crew
complement of any military aircraft in
the entire world ever the flight crew is
relatively brunch including just a pilot
a co-pilot and a flight engineer as well
as a navigator but the mission crew
that's a whole other story The e4b
contains the space and stations to
operate with a mission crew of up to 108
people including everybody from
maintenance Crews to onboard analysts
and technicians to senior members of the
US military at the helm of it all is the
battle staff a team of planners systems
officers administrative Personnel a
handful of other experts and the onboard
Chief they're supported by the
operations team a group that works to
process and synthesize data from up to
29 available on board consoles at once
also on board are the technical control
team who handle the aircraft's
communication system and keep them
connected cooled and reliable during
flight the layout of the nightwatch
aircraft is specially optimized to
ensure that the full mission staff can
function to its highest quality the
plane is organized into three Deck with
the uppermost of the three including the
flight deck for the pilot co-pilot
Navigator and flight engineer plus a
lounge are and sleeping quarters for the
flight crew and maintenance Personnel
the middle deck is where the magic
happens and includes a n9c conference
room a projection room with EMP
insulated flat screen displays a
briefing room where the battle staff
does a majority of their work and
operations area where those 29 consoles
and their Associated switchboards phone
set up and data hubs are housed and
compartment near the after of the
aircraft toward the tail where the
technical control team does its work
toward the front of the main deck the
e4b features a galley with freezers
refrigerators ovens and microwaves with
the capacity for onboard stewards to
serve many dozens of hot meals over the
course of an extended flight toward the
after of the plane the has access to a
rest area to sleep and recuperate with
additional food storage and the capacity
for use in religious ceremonies also
squeezed onto the main deck is a Zone
called the national command Authority or
NCA this basically amounts to an
Executive Suite A Place to house the
president of the United States of
America the secretary of defense or in
times of severe crisis an acting or
presumptive acting presidents the weet
contains a mod sleeping area a lounge an
office a dressing room and a
telecommunication Suite to enable secure
highquality Communications from onboard
the plane to anywhere acoss across the
world in the event that the nightwatch
does carry the highest executive of the
United States the onboard briefing room
is fitted with Elon and the ability to
prepare and broadcast video the e4b is
also able to link to America's
groundbased Communications Network
although that may be a somewhat less
useful capability in the events that
much of that network is fried in all the
night watch features 42 different
communication systems all at the
president's fingertips in case of
emergency it can reach any landline or
cell phone in the entire world capture
radio and television Broad and
communicate with any element of the US
military at any time the aircraft's lowo
de is largely a functional space
equipped with water supply tanks that
store enough to provide for a full
flight crew across the length of a
journey also on the lower de a satellite
Communications equipment and a very low
frequency or blf radio transmitter the
aircraft is equipped with its own air
stair to Embark or disembark including
to enable easy access when Landing in
potentially suboptimal conditions
Elsewhere on the aircraft are power
panels to control and manage interior
power plus an onic Suite spare parts and
liquid oxygen converters EB's latest
phased Ray antenna systems enable the
aircraft to stream High volumes of high
bandwidth voice data and video linking
with a range of Military and Commercial
satellites under adverse conditions and
finally there's the nightwatch tewa its
trailing wire antenna this is a 5 Mile
Long antenna usually held on a spool
that unfurls behind the aircraft the tww
is essential for a function called too
short for take charge and move out which
ures the survival of critical
Communications links that can transmit
between the national command Authority
usually meaning the president and
America's Triad of strategic nuclear
weapons systems its bomber Fleet its
intercontinental ballistic missiles and
its nuclear armed submarines while the
trailing wire aner on most car aircraft
is especially vulnerable to emps the dwa
on the nightwatch aircraft is hardened
just like everything else on the planes
when in use they're capable of
penetrating Salty Sea waterer that
renders most Communications methods
ineffective and sending signals to
America's ballistic missile submarines
the 14 of the Ohio class and soon the
planned 12 of the new Columbia class nor
is the night watch intended to function
on its own and nor does it have to when
in Flight the e4b is capable of working
with other too aircraft specifically the
E6 Mercury 16 of which are in service to
the US Navy the Mercury fleets are
intended basically as relay stations
receiving orders from the national
command Authority wherever that highest
executive may be including from the
night watch and transmitting them to
ballistic missile submarines at closer
range the Mercury line will be phased
out by a successor aircraft currently
designated the locked exx with a planned
date of introduction late in this decade
they're also able to communicate with
America's two vc2s each designated Air
Force 1 anytime they're fulfilling their
iconic role carrying the US presidents
and while the night watch is not
optimized to carry out battle management
and tactical command and control
functions like an advanced early warning
and control aircraft it can collaborate
with America's aging E3 century and the
incoming E7 wedg taale to unify both a
strategic nuclear response to a threat
and a potential parallel engagement
involving conventional Warfare
assets the nwat always introduced to
service for the first time in 1974 at
that time and through to the 1990s at
least one of the four aircraft was
continually stationed at Andrews Air
Force Base in Maryland there one night
watch at all times has been kept on
alert a practice that's continued since
the four aircraft transferred to
Nebraska for full-time stationing by
America's Clinton administration an e4b
kept on alert is screwed 24 hours a day
7 days a week with a watch crew always
on board to guard over its highly
sensitive Communications equipment other
nwat crew on call are expected to remain
on base and ready to be called by a base
wide launch alarm even though nwat
aircraft no longer stay at Andre's Air
Force Base a complete e4b crew is always
kept there on standby with another
located at R patters and Air Force Base
in Ohio luckily the night watch has
never had to fulfill its primary Mission
role and we for our part very much hope
that that remains the case but it's
gotten a good amount of work done in the
years since his introduction for example
one night watch always flies back up
with America's president training behind
Air Force One whenever it goes abroad
for international travel and often oh
when it moves to Alaska or Hawaii far
out of the immediate vicinity of the
Continental us where the night watch is
based there the e4b joins an Airborne
Convoy of cargo and sport aircraft and
maintains the ability for the president
to leverage a backup plane if need be
that way even if something happens to
Air Force One and the president is
otherwise stranded abroad they've got a
fully capable National command aircraft
at their disposal to that ends the night
watch and Air Force One are never kept
together when they're deployed if Air
Force One is kept at one airport the
night watch remains on standby at
another the decision to send the
nightwash fleet to Nebraska fulltime was
made after the introduction of the
current pair of Air Force One aircraft
the VC 25s which include much of the
executive functionality of the e4b and
probably a whole lot else that we just
don't know about rather than be used by
the president most of the time the nwat
aircraft are the primary planes charged
with transporting the US Secretary of
Defense on overseas trips with its
onboard facilities expansive enough to
allow the secretary staff to keep in
constant contact with the us and
continue coordinating on matters of
Defense at all times once the vc2s took
over presidential transport duties there
were enough e forbs freed up that one or
two could be on loan to FEMA America's
federal emergency management agency it's
equipped to serve as a mobile command
post in places where ground facilities
are non-exist istant damaged or unsafe
body e4b was also spotted above
Washington DC on 9/11 following the araa
attack on the Pentagon building and
prior to the attacks on the World Trade
Center buildings as for presidential
flight only Jimmy Carter and Ronald
Reagan are known to have flown on the
nightwatch aircraft at least officially
yet despite the E4 B's obvious utility
not just in the event of a nuclear
catastrophe but as a highly valuable
asset more broadly to the United States
it's also an aging platform the night
watch celebrated its 50th anniversary in
active service this year making making
it older than about 2/3 of Americans and
replacement has been on the American
government's mind for some time now
although it's onboard communication
sweet includes some very Advanced pieces
of Kit other nightwatch systems have
increasingly shown their age and even
the older model 747 it's based on now
leaves some to be desired talk of
replacing the night watch started all
the way back in 2006 but although the
first plane in the series was slated for
retirement in 2009 that retirement still
hasn't happened a 2019 flood at offer
Airbase didn't help matters either
severely damaging the E4 B's primary
Runway and leading to yearslong
relocations of inflight and groundbased
nightwatch Personnel that have made the
current aircraft harder to fly and
maintain the anticipated replacement of
the aircraft is currently referred to as
the survivable Airborne operations
center the program that's been ongoing
since 2019 intended to utilize
significant off-the-shelf components and
a far more digitized approach to Systems
Construction the new aircraft should go
operational sometime in the early to mid
2030s it'll be constructed and developed
with the help of the Sierra Nevada
Corporation or snc an aerospace and
electronic contractor that beat out
Boeing for the role after Boeing refused
to let go of its data rights to the
airplane intended for use in the new
platform the 7478 Intercontinental
despite Boeing's lack of involvement the
7478 I will still be the aircraft used
for the plane rather than acquire new
copies Sierra NADA has purchased five
used models from Korean Air in
acquisition that might not make sense on
paper when brand new models could be
custom built but it actually has more
value than it seems unlike made to water
aircraft used aircraft are highly
unlikely to have things like tracking
devices monitoring equipment bugs or
anything else installed in hard to
access or hard to detect places since
after all people working on them had no
reason to try and spy on what they
thought would be a Korean Air jetliner
the design of the new aircraft
especially the interior is tightly
controlled and buried under several
layers of classification but as per the
US Air Force it will fulfill largely the
same broad role as quote a command
control and Communication Center
directing US forces executing mergency
War orders and coordinating the
activities of Civil Authorities
including National contingency plans per
the Department of Defense the new
aircraft May merge in summer
capabilities with the E6 Mercury Fleet
in order to integrate ICBM command and
control into a platform that could
communicate with the entire nuclear
triat in the coming years the nwat O
attempts to pull off what has become the
ultimate coup of a Cold War era aircraft
like the hyper Advanced F22 Raptor and
the formidable B2 spirit and several
other advanced war planes that were
meant to bringer America a victory
against a fellow major power the e4b is
just years away from ending its service
life without ever serving the purpose it
was made for but far from a lack of
accomplishment far from an end result
that only the lazy or uninspired would
brag about this is the goal for any
aircraft with Stakes so high as the
night watch every day that the night
watch goes by without having to assume
control of a world-ending nuclear
exchange is another day that America's
defense apparatus and indeed the
governments of the entire world have
fulfilled most of their their
fundamental Duty give it a few years and
knock onward a general lack of mushroom
clouds and the e4b night watch will have
finally fulfilled its mission
Ver Más Videos Relacionados
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)