Doomsday planes. Will they survive a nuclear attack? The Pentagon's most expensive machines

The US is building a new fleet of planes, commonly known as doomsday planes. Resistant to nuclear attack and radioactive fallout. They are intended to ensure decision-making continuity in the event of a nuclear war. The American army is considering purchasing Boeing 747-8i aircraft and expanding the Offutt base to accommodate future E-4Cs.

Investing in equipment that will survive anything. The world is becoming more and more unpredictable, which is why countries are taking various steps to ensure their safety in every possible scenario. This is what the United States is choosing to do.

Planes that will survive a nuclear attack

The US currently has four E-4B Nightwatch aircraft. Machines based on the Boeing 747-200. Their task is to maintain communication with the state command and the army in extreme conditions. They are, as it were, the “last resort” in the event of the destruction of ground command centers on land.

However, they are slowly becoming obsolete. Their maintenance costs are increasing, and the old technical capabilities are no longer entirely up to date and do not meet the requirements of modern conditions. That is why the USA is investing in a new generation of E-4C – it will be based on the Boeing 747-8i – we read in forsal.pl

8 new planes and an action plan

The expansion of the infrastructure at the Offutt base in Nebraska is intended to prepare it for the reception of a new generation of US air command centers. The facility, which has been servicing E-4B aircraft for years, will be equipped with modern facilities: six to eight new parking positions, extensive fuel warehouses, logistics facilities and a service hangar capable of accommodating two machines at the same time. Completion of the investment is planned for 2030, adUltimately, the Americans will have eight E-4Cs at their disposal.

The planes themselves are also impressive – both in terms of capabilities and costs. The machines achieve a cruising speed of approximately Mach 0.855 and have a range that allows them to act as an air command center. Although production of the 747-8i ended in 2022, the United States purchased five used units from Korean Air in 2024. One of them will be intended for trials and tests, while the remaining four will be converted into the E-4C version – we read further in forsal.pl

The modernization program was planned for many years. By 2036, a prototype, the first production machine and a set of eight target E-4C aircraft are to be created. However, it has its price – according to the findings of Bild journalists, the cost of one hour of flight reaches almost 160,000 dollars, which makes the planes the most expensive to operate in the American armed forces.

prepared by WM

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