A Guide To The 'doomsday Plane': The Us Airborne Command Center

As President Donald Trump weighs whether he will target Iranian atomic accommodation amid escalating Israel-Iran conflict, nan president’s U.S. Air Force E-4B Nightwatch, besides known arsenic nan "doomsday plane," is now attracting attention, having reportedly landed astatine Joint Base Andrews extracurricular Washington, D.C., earlier this week, according to nan New York Post and different media.

In consequence to inquiries astir nan alleged Nightwatch landing, officials from Joint Base Andrews told Fox News Digital that "as a matter of operational security, we cannot remark connected circumstantial location aliases intent of nan [National Airborne Operations Center] aliases different craft connected our flightline." Other reports opportunity nan level is nary longer successful nan Washington area and is backmost astatine its location base.

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Here’s what to cognize astir nan E-4B Nightwatch:

Military unit nonstop a E-4B Nightwatch astatine nan Lincoln Airport connected Tuesday, April 26, 2022. The planes, colloquially known arsenic nan last day planes, usually alert retired of Offutt Air Force Base successful Bellevue, Nebraska, but are successful Lincoln while that runway is being rebuilt.  (Chris Machian /Omaha World-Herald via AP)

What is nan E-4B? 

The E-4B is simply a Boeing 747-200 that has been militarized and is operated by nan U.S. Air Force. Designed during nan Cold War, nan level tin stay airborne for up to a week and is capable to refuel successful midair.

Sixty-seven antennas and outer dishes let nan Nightwatch to pass pinch individuals worldwide. 

The U.S. maintains a fleet of 4 E-4Bs, built astatine a costs of $438.76 cardinal each.

Whom does nan E-4B protect?

A U.S. Air Force E-4B assigned to nan 595th Command and Control Group, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., flies connected a training sortie complete nan Midwest, May, 15, 2024. The E-4B is simply a militarized type of nan Boeing 747-200, consisting of 4 engines and a swept-wing design. It is tin of long-range, high-altitude operations and in-flight aerial refueling.  (U.S. Air Force photograph by Tech. Sgt. Codie Trimble)

The E-4B is designed arsenic a mobile bid station that allows nationalist information officials, nan Joint Chiefs of Staff, nan President, and nan Secretary of Defense to proceed moving nan authorities during a atomic conflict. 

According to a USAF property release, it is besides utilized for world recreation by nan Secretary of Defense. 

"Additionally, nan E-4B provides extracurricular nan continental United States recreation support for nan Secretary of Defense and his unit to guarantee Title 10 bid and power connectivity." According to the Aviation Zone, successful 1994 FEMA was authorized to usage nan level arsenic a power and bid halfway during earthy disasters.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth signs a memorandum aboard an E-4B Nightwatch craft while flying complete nan Pacific Ocean, March 28, 2025.  (DOD photograph by U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Madelyn Keech)

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Publicly disposable U.S. Air Force data states that "at slightest 1 E4-B is ever generated arsenic a NAOC and connected alert 24 hours a day, 7 days a week" to support elder defense officials. 

The E-4B tin clasp a unit of 112. Onboard, officials person entree to 18 bunks, six bathrooms, a convention room, communications space, a briefing room and a remainder area.

Lt. Col. Mike Moone, a navigator connected a E-4B Nightwatch, prepares for takeoff astatine nan Lincoln Airport connected Tuesday, April 26, 2022.  (Chris Machian /Omaha World-Herald via AP)

Why usage nan E4-B? 

The Air Force says that "the behaviour of E-4B operations encompasses each phases of nan threat spectrum." The Nightwatch tin withstand an electromagnetic beat and tin past atomic blasts and cyberattacks. 

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What is nan existent threat?

Leaders wrong Iran person threatened retaliation against nan U.S. successful nan arena it enters nan Israel-Iran conflict. Theresa Payton, erstwhile White House main accusation serviceman and CEO of nan cybersecurity patient Fortalice Solutions, told Fox News Digital that nan Islamic Regime whitethorn prepare a high-impact cyberattack connected nan U.S. "as it becomes much and much desperate."

Lt. Col. Peter J. Amaral, left, and Maj. Ted DeBonis exit a E-4B Nightwatch astatine nan Lincoln Airport connected Tuesday, April 26, 2022.  (Chris Machian /Omaha World-Herald via AP)

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The president is said to beryllium deciding whether to usage nan B-2 Spirit stealth bomber to present a bid of 30,000-pound GBU-57 Massive Ordinance Penetrators, besides known arsenic "bunker busters," to destruct Iran’s well-fortified Fordow atomic facility, which whitethorn dishonesty further than 300 feet beneath mountainous rock.

While Israel targeted accommodation associated pinch nan Iranian subject and Iran’s atomic program, connected June 19, Iran struck Soroka Hospital, nan largest infirmary successful confederate Israel, pinch a ballistic missile, causing damage.