It is an unofficial denomination of a class of aircraft which is used as an Airborne Command Post in an event of nuclear war, disaster or other large scale conflict that threatens key military and government infrastructure.
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There are only a few countries that have designed and manufactured such aircraft, namely the United States and Russia.
What exactly is Doomsday plane? Known officially as National Airborne Operations Centers (NAOC), these planes allow leaders and wartime hawks to issue commands and wage war from the sky. They also feature a vast array of defense mechanisms, including the ability to withstand electromagnetic pulses. The jet’s crews also use traditional analog flight instruments to navigate as they are less susceptible to cyberattack. The planes, while not technically secret, are rarely mentioned; the Air Force, for example, will not even publicly acknowledge owning some of them. In operation since the 1970s, these airborne command posts were long considered the best chance for a Cold War president to survive a nuclear attack. Unlike the ceremonial and comfort-focused Air Force One, the doomsday planes are flying war rooms staffed by dozens of military analysts, strategists and communication aides who would guide the president through the first days of a nuclear war.
Doomsday Aircrafts : USA
★ Boeing E-4B
The Boeing E-4 is an Advanced Airborne Command Post, with the project name "Nightwatch", and is a strategic command and control military aircraft operated by the United States Air Force. The E-4 series was specially modified from the Boeing 747-200B for the National Emergency Airborne Command Post (NEACP) program and was introduced on 1974. The E-4 serves as a survivable mobile command post for the National Command Authority. The E-4B is designed to survive an EMP with systems intactand has state-of-the-art direct fire countermeasures. Although many older aircraft have been upgraded with glass cockpits, the E-4B still uses traditional analog flight instruments, as they are less susceptible to damage from an EMP blast. The E-4B is capable of operating with a crew up to 112 people including flight and mission personnel, the largest crew of any aircraft in US Air Force history. With in-flight aerial refueling it is capable of remaining airborne for a long time. There are four E4 variants operated by United States Airforce. Out of 4, one will be escorting President of the United States on his foreign trips while others will be responsible for the transportation of Secretary of Defense on his foreign trips and the others will be alert 24x7. Its operated by USAF Global Strike Command based at Offutt AFB, Nebraska.
★ Boeing E-6 Mercury
The Boeing E-6 Mercury (formerly E-6 Hermes) is an airborne command post and communications relay based on the Boeing 707-320. The original E-6A manufactured by Boeing's defense division entered service with the United States Navy in July 1989, replacing the EC-130Q. This platform, now modified to the E-6B standard, conveys instructions from the National Command Authority to fleet ballistic missile submarines, a mission known as TACAMO (Take Charge And Move Out). The E-6B model deployed in October 1998 can also remotely control Minuteman ICBMs using the Airborne Launch Control System. With production lasting until 1991, the E-6 was the final new derivative of the Boeing 707 to be built.
Doomsday Aircrafts : Russian Federation
★ Ilyushin Il-80
The Ilyushin Il-80 (NATO reporting name: Maxdome) is a Russian airborne command and control aircraft. It is a modified Ilyushin Il-86 airliner. The Russian reporting name for the aircraft is Aimak, or Eimak (Mongolian for "clan"). Used by Russian Airforce (8th Special Purpose Aviation Division), there are 4 Maxdome built and 3 are in active service. Heavily modified from the Ilyushin Il-86, the Il-80 is meant to be used as an airborne command center for Russian officials, including the President, in the event of nuclear war.The role of the Ilyushin Il-80 is similar to that of the Boeing E-4B. Unlike the standard Il-86 airliner, the Il-80 has two electrical generator pods mounted inboard of the engine nacelles. Each pod is approximately 9.5 metres (32 feet) long and 1.3 metres (4 feet) in diameter. Both pods include landing lights. Like the E-4B, the aircraft has a dorsal SATCOM canoe, believed to house advanced satellite communications equipment, and a trailing wire antenna mounted in the lower aft fuselage for very low frequency (VLF) radio transmission and reception (likely for communication with ballistic missile submarines). They are painted in the current livery of Aeroflot, the Russian state airline; and carry international civilian registrations RA-86147, RA-86148, and RA-86149. It is expected that these aircrafts are to get replaced with new Il-96-400 based Doomsday planes.
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Images :US Defense, Wikipedia