The U.S. Air Force has granted Sierra Nevada Corp a $13 billion contract to develop a successor to the E-4B, colloquially known as the Doomsday Plane, due to its capacity to withstand nuclear war.
The initiative, dubbed the Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC), aims to replace the aging 1970s-era aircraft nearing the end of its service life, stated an Air Force spokesperson.
Work on the SAOC project will be distributed across Colorado, Nevada, and Ohio, with an expected completion date of 2036, according to the Air Force.
The new system will consist of a commercially derived jet, reinforced and adapted to meet military specifications to fulfill operational needs.
Earlier reports indicated the exclusion of Boeing from the competition to develop the E-4B’s successor, shifting focus to Sierra Nevada Corp.
The E-4B, while typically employed for transporting the U.S. Secretary of Defense, is primarily designed as a mobile command center capable of enduring nuclear blasts and electromagnetic effects, facilitating communication with the military during national emergencies.
Equipped with mid-air refueling capabilities, conference rooms, and advanced communication systems, the E-4B fleet currently comprises four highly modified Boeing 747-200 jumbo jets, with at least one aircraft on standby at all times.
Anticipated to reach the end of its operational lifespan by the early 2030s, the E-4B will be succeeded by the newly developed SAOC, ensuring the continuity of critical airborne operations in scenarios involving nuclear warfare.
