Sierra Nevada Secures Major Contract for US Air Force’s Doomsday Plane Project
The U.S. Air Force announced on Friday that it has granted a contract to Sierra Nevada Corp to create a successor to the E-4B, referred to as the Doomsday plane, due to its capacity to endure a nuclear conflict.
The Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC) initiative aims to succeed the outdated 1970s aircraft, which is nearing its operational lifespan, an Air Force spokesperson stated in an announcement.
To fulfill mission demands, the weapon system will consist of a commercial derivative jet reinforced and adapted to comply with military specifications.
Reuters reported in December that the U.S. Air Force removed Boeing BA.N from its bid to design a successor for the E-4B Nightwatch.
The Air Force currently operates four E-4B aircraft, with at least one on standby at all times. The fleet of extensively modified Boeing 747-200 jumbo jets has become progressively challenging and costly to uphold as parts go out of circulation.
The E-4B is projected to conclude its service life in the early 2030s.
