What is Doomsday Plane E-4B, and why has it landed in DC? Should the world be worried?
On the morning of September 11, 2001, soon after two commercial jets rammed into the World Trade Centre towers, the TV news suddenly flashed what many journalists referred to as "a surreal and unexplained sight" – a large, unmarked white jumbo jet circling low over Washington, DC, directly above the White House.The mysterious aircraft was identified as an E-4B Nightwatch, or the "Doomsday Plane". It is a highly-modified Boeing 747-200 aircraft that serves as the National Airborne Operations Centre (NAOC) for the US government.advertisementOnce airborne, it becomes a mobile Pentagon, the headquarters of the US Department of Defence.
The aircraft is spotted so rarely that on the fateful day in 2001, CNN journalist John King, reporting live from Lafayette Park across the White House, noted that such airspace (around the White House) is "generally restricted", and the presence of this aircraft even made US Secret Service agents hyper-alert, as per author Mark H Gaffney's 2007 research paper: "Why Did the World's Most Advanced Electronics Warfare Plane Circle Over The White House on 9/11".NBC journalist Bob Kur called it "the most surreal of this morning's scenes," describing a very slow, low flyover, the research paper also stated.This rarely-seen plane was spotted landing at Joint Base Andrews in Washington, DC, on Tuesday, raising fresh concerns about the US's readiness for a potential large-scale conflict in West Asia, where Israel and Iran are engaged in a full-blown war over Iran's alleged nuclear ambitions.advertisementSocial media is abuzz with speculation that the "Nightwatch's" landing in DC shows heightened alertness within US defence circles.However, the US Air Force has time and again maintained that such flights are routine, as one of the reportedly four planes in the fleet is always on "alert status", ready to launch within minutes.The aircraft's appearance in the media during volatile times is also viewed as a demonstration of military readiness and strategic resilience.THE ROLE OF THE DOOMSDAY PLANEThe E-4B Nightwatch, or the Doomsday Plane, is the nickname for a specially-modified military aircraft designed to serve as a survivable airborne command centre in the event of a nuclear war or national emergency.This aircraft ensures that US military and civilian leadership, most notably the President of the United States, the Secretary of Defence, and top military commanders, can continue to command and control American forces even if ground-based facilities are destroyed.The aircraft is operated by the US Air Force's Air Combat Command.Notably, the aircraft can directly communicate with nuclear submarines, bombers, and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) silos. It is equipped with Very Low Frequency (VLF) and High Frequency (HF) antennas that allow global communications, even during nuclear conflict.THE E-4B IS A FORTRESS IN AIRadvertisementThe jumbo jet was built to withstand a nuclear blast, electromagnetic pulse (EMP), and other forms of electronic warfare. The plane does not even have windows in critical areas, as it is designed to reduce vulnerability to EMP.The jet is also equipped with shielded wiring and hardening to continue operating under severe conditions. The Doomsday Plane can stay airborne for days as it has in-flight refuelling technology, and can accommodate over 110 personnel onboard.The aircraft is continuously updated with the latest technologies, including modern digital communications and hardened systems for cyber defence.It is also reportedly the backup for the Air Force One aircraft for the US President's overseas trips. However, military commanders also use them for various missions.A common myth about the aircraft is that it can launch nuclear weapons. It is a command centre, and not a weapons platform.THE ORIGINS OF THE AIRCRAFTThe E-4B Nightwatch was developed during the Cold War, first entering service in the 1970s. It was originally designed under the Looking Glass programme to ensure the US could retaliate in case of a nuclear first strike by the Soviet Union.Reports suggest that during the Cold War, at least one Doomsday Plane was always airborne. However, after the Soviet Union collapsed, the E-4B no longer flew 24/7 but remained on ground alert.The fleet, however, may reportedly be upgraded in the coming years, given its high maintenance costs and the need for modernised electronics.Must Watch
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