The E-4B: America's Doomsday Plane

Summary

The 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

00:00

🛩️ 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.

05:01

🛫 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.

10:03

🌐 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.

15:04

🔒 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.

20:04

🛠️ 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.

Keywords

💡Advanced Airborne command post (AACp)

The Advanced Airborne command post, or AACp, refers to a highly specialized aircraft designed to serve as a mobile command center for military operations, particularly in the event of a nuclear war. In the script, the AACp is exemplified by the E4 B, which is kept ready for the highest leaders of the American Military to make critical decisions that could change global history in a crisis situation.

💡Nuclear electromagnetic pulse (NEMP)

A Nuclear electromagnetic pulse, or NEMP, is a massive burst of electromagnetic radiation that can result from a nuclear detonation. The script discusses the threat of NEMPs, which can cause severe damage to electrical and electronic systems, and the development of the E4 B was partially in response to the need for a command post that could withstand such an event.

💡Starfish Prime

Starfish Prime was a high-altitude nuclear test conducted by the United States in 1962. The script mentions this test as a turning point in understanding the scale of EMPs that could be produced by a nuclear weapon, highlighting the unexpected magnitude of the EMP and its far-reaching effects, such as disabling street lights in Hawaii, nearly a thousand miles away.

💡Electromagnetic pulse (EMP) hardening

EMP hardening refers to the process of designing and constructing electronic systems and infrastructure to resist the effects of an electromagnetic pulse. The script describes how the E4 B aircraft has been hardened against EMPs, with shielded wiring and insulated equipment, to ensure it can operate even after a nuclear EMP event.

💡In-flight aerial refueling

In-flight aerial refueling is the process of transferring fuel from one aircraft to another while both are in flight. The script explains that the E4 B is designed to receive in-flight refueling, allowing it to stay airborne for extended periods, which is crucial for its role as a command post during a crisis.

💡National Command Authority (NCA)

The National Command Authority, or NCA, refers to the executive suite within the E4 B aircraft, designed to house the President of the United States or other high-ranking officials during a severe crisis. The script describes the NCA as a place for secure, high-quality communication and decision-making in the event of a nuclear exchange or other catastrophic events.

💡E6 Mercury

The E6 Mercury is a fleet of aircraft that serve as relay stations for communication, receiving orders from the National Command Authority and transmitting them to ballistic missile submarines. The script mentions the E6 Mercury as working in conjunction with the E4 B to ensure continuous command and control capabilities.

💡Take Charge and Move Out (TCM)

Take Charge and Move Out, or TCM, is a function that ensures the survival of critical communication links between the National Command Authority and America's strategic nuclear weapons systems. The script explains that the trailing wire antenna on the E4 B is essential for TCM, allowing communication even in adverse conditions.

💡E3 Sentry

The E3 Sentry is an advanced early warning and control aircraft used by the United States. The script suggests that while the E4 B is not optimized for battle management and tactical command and control like the E3 Sentry, it can collaborate with it to unify strategic nuclear responses and conventional warfare engagements.

💡Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC)

The Survivable Airborne Operations Center, or SAOC, is the anticipated replacement for the E4 B. The script discusses the SAOC as a program that aims to utilize off-the-shelf components and a digitized approach to systems construction, with the goal of maintaining the E4 B's command and control capabilities while updating the technology for the future.

💡Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC)

Sierra Nevada Corporation is an aerospace and electronic contractor that won the role of developing the Survivable Airborne Operations Center. The script notes that SNC was chosen over Boeing for this role, and they have purchased used 747-8 Intercontinental aircraft to repurpose for the new platform, emphasizing the value of used aircraft for their lack of potential spying equipment.

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