When the U.S. military initiated an unarmed nuclear missile launch in November 2025, it prompted questions about the President of the United States’ location during a nuclear conflict. The response lies in a repurposed Boeing 747 referred to as the National Airborne Operations Center, a mobile command and control hub fitted with sophisticated communication technology and a structure fortified against nuclear shockwaves. Much like the nation’s nuclear defense framework, America’s command and control functions rely on technology significantly older than one might expect. Initially provided to the U.S. Air Force in January 1980, the E-4B, dubbed Nightwatch and popularly labeled the ‘Nuke-Proof’ Doomsday plane, is capable of resisting electromagnetic pulses while maintaining advanced satellite and electronics capabilities.
Even though it will be 45 years old in 2025, the Air Force isn’t scheduled to replace its four Nightwatch aircraft until 2036, implying that the U.S.’s ‘Doomsday’ planes will approach their 60th anniversary when they are finally decommissioned. The rationale behind this is humorously straightforward: the E-4B requires larger four-engine aircraft due to its communication network’s size. Regrettably, manufacturers such as Boeing and Airbus have mostly ceased production of such large planes, prompting the Air Force to acquire its ‘doomsday planes’ on the secondary market. Presently, the nation operates four E-4Bs, ensuring that one is always prepared for rapid deployment. However, the dependence on larger, older aircraft has consistently led to numerous maintenance and operational challenges, prompting the United States to commence its successor program in 2024.
A maturing technological wonder
Several attributes allow the aircraft to perform these high-level tasks. This four-engine, long-range, high-altitude plane can accommodate up to 111 individuals and operates like a flying Pentagon, featuring a main deck segmented into six areas, including command, conference, communications, briefing, operations, office, and rest zones. The airplane has an extraordinarily intricate communications system that utilizes all major types of electromagnetic communication. Allegedly, the aircraft contains multiple communication programs, such as the advanced Milstar satellite system, a jam-resistant, multi-satellite network that enables the plane to transmit launch commands to the U.S.’s arsenal of missile silos, submarines, and bombers with specially designed electronics and transmitters. The Nightwatch even has a low-frequency antenna capable of trailing approximately 5 miles behind the aircraft. Another significant advantage is its capacity for prolonged flight. The aircraft can fly for twelve hours before requiring refueling in the air, ensuring that U.S. leaders can remain securely airborne during a nuclear crisis.
However, these features come at a substantial cost, as the Air Force must utilize secondhand jets to support a larger communications architecture. This necessity arises from the requirement for larger, four-engine planes to underpin the expansive communications network. Fueled by four GE CF6-50E2 turbofan engines, the four Nightwatch jets represent some of the oldest 747-200s currently operating. No American commercial airlines currently deploy this model. Although the U.S. has previously operated secondhand jets — for instance, Boeing 707s were repurposed for the E-8 Joint Stars fleet in the 1990s — the longevity of the E-4B has resulted in numerous challenges over the years, leading to increased expenses and prolonged maintenance and reliability concerns.
Aging yet (un)dependable
Given that the U.S. must rely on an older, larger model, the upkeep of the E-4B has consistently posed challenges, particularly as wear and tear become more apparent. The Nightwatch has started to exhibit significant reliability complications, maintaining a mission availability rate close to 55%. Even though the aircraft undergo regular inspections, repairs can prove exceedingly challenging, as the model’s lack of general popularity complicates its maintenance logistics. In the 50 years since its introduction, many of the aircraft’s specialized components have either become outdated or ceased development, as suppliers have started to withdraw various parts. According to Air Force General Charles Q Brown during a Senate Appropriations Committee session in May 2024, these expenses have driven the Air Force to explore alternatives, remarking, “At some point, it gets more costly to maintain than to transition into a new capability.”
In April 2024, the Air Force revealed plans to find a replacement for the E-4B, entering a $13 billion agreement with the Sierra Nevada Corporation to develop its Survivable Airborne Operations Center. According to Reuters, Sierra Nevada Corporation has already procured five 747-8s from Korean Air at a cost of $674 million. Reportedly, Sierra Nevada Corporation anticipates delivering the fleet by 2036, meaning the Nightwatch will reach 56 years of age before its retirement. While several technological innovations