
What Is the ‘Doomsday Plane’ Circling U.S. Airspace During the Iran–Israel Stand‑off?
As tensions rise throughout the world, curiosity in the function of the US military’s airborne command centre, the E-4B Nightwatch, has increased due to its unexpected journey to Washington.
One of the US’s most covert planes silently flew over the US capital as tensions between Israel and Iran continue to rise and Washington considers possible military action against the Islamic Republic.
A hardened airborne command centre designed to keep America’s top defence and security officials operational in the event of a nuclear crisis, the E-4B Nightwatch, flew to Joint Base Andrews on the evening of June 17. Flight monitors saw the aircraft, dubbed the “doomsday plane,” travelling an oddly roundabout course to Washington, which led to conjecture regarding its timing and intent.
The E-4B Nightwatch: What is it?
The Boeing 747-200 has been modified for military use as the E-4B Nightwatch. The US military converted it into a flying war room. Known by its official name, the National Airborne Operations Centre (NAOC), it is intended to serve as a mobile command post in the event of a nuclear war or other national emergency.
The E-4B assists senior U.S. authorities in continuing to coordinate operations from the air when ground-based leadership or communication infrastructure is disrupted. In times of national emergency, it serves as an airborne command centre that allows the President, Secretary of Defence, and Joint Chiefs of Staff to retain command, control, and communication capabilities.
For what reason is it known as the “doomsday plane”?
The aircraft is designed to survive severe interruptions such as electromagnetic pulses (EMPs) and nuclear bombs. Because it can function as a command-and-control centre even in the case of a full-scale conflict, it is frequently referred to as the “flying Pentagon.” A story in The New York Post claims that although the E-4B has a 12-hour unrefueled endurance, it has been known to stay in the air for up to 35.4 hours when refuelled in midair.
Is its most recent flight reason for alarm?
Flights of the E-4B are not unusual. This particular sortie stood out among the many that are constantly carried out to maintain operational readiness. According to information from flight monitoring website FlightRadar, the plane took off from Bossier City, Louisiana, just before 6 p.m. local time on June 17 and landed in Maryland at around 10 p.m., according to The New York Times. The flight path, which looped across Virginia and North Carolina before coming to Maryland, caught people’s attention. It twisted down the eastern shore. The callsign was even more peculiar: the aircraft used ORDER01 rather than the standard ORDER6.
In the midst of global tensions, E-4B flight?
The existing Israel-Iran confrontation escalated at the same time as the flight. According to AP, US President Donald Trump has called for Iran’s “unconditional surrender” as the war intensifies. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, warned the United States that direct intervention would do “irreparable damage.”
Two Iranian government planes left the country’s airspace on Wednesday for Oman, according to FlightRadar data. According to The New York Post, it stoked rumours that urgent diplomatic negotiations were being set up in Muscat, the capital of Oman, or that Iranian officials may be fleeing as tensions rose.
What is the number of E-4B aircraft?
The 1st Airborne Command and Control Squadron is home to all four of the US Air Force’s E-4Bs. At least one aircraft is always on high alert and prepared for quick deployment.