The United States' Doomsday Plane is seen flying over Nebraska amid rising tensions with Russia. This moment is reminiscent of the historical peak of the Cold War, when the US and the Soviet Union commissioned the Doomsday Plane and there was a mutual use of nuclear weapons.
Called the Doomsday Plane, because this combat vehicle is designed to function as a flying war room, allowing superpower leaders to issue orders in the event of a nuclear conflict.
Quoted from IFL Science, Thursday (3/3/2022) this aircraft is theoretically able to survive a nuclear attack, plus the effects of electromagnetic pulses, while still keeping leaders in touch with other world leaders via satellite communications.
The US National Airborne Operations Center reports a modified Boeing E-4B, codenamed Nightwatch, took off from the US Air Force base in Nebraska on Monday (28/2).
"The E-4B is protected against the effects of electromagnetic pulses and has an electrical system designed to support advanced electronics and various communications equipment," the US Air Force wrote on their website.
"Advanced satellite communications systems provide worldwide communications for senior leaders via air operations centers. Other improvements include nuclear and thermal effects shielding, acoustic control, improved technical control facilities and improved air conditioning systems for cooling electrical components."
Doomsday planes have the ability to refuel in the air. This vehicle only needs to be dismounted to lubricate the engine about once a week. During a test flight on Monday (28/2), the aircraft flew for 4.5 hours on a route to Chicago.
The US government did not respond to reports questioning whether the Doomsday Aircraft flight was a response to Russian maneuvers. For information, on Sunday (27/2), Russia announced their nuclear forces had been put on alert.