U.S. begins testing new E-4C ‘Doomsday Plane’ designed for nuclear war scenarios

This aircraft will replace the aging E-4B, which for more than half a century has served as an airborne command post for controlling the country’s nuclear forces.

The project is being developed by Sierra Nevada Corporation, which on Aug. 7, 2025, carried out the first flight of the E-4C based on a modernized Boeing 747-8 — an extended and upgraded version of the iconic airliner. The new aircraft is undergoing deep modernization to maintain command-and-control capabilities in the event of nuclear conflict or a large-scale attack on the United States.

Since the 1970s, the U.S. Air Force has used four E-4B Nightwatch planes built on the Boeing 747-200 platform. Their average age exceeds 51 years, and they no longer meet modern requirements. That is why in 2024, the Pentagon signed a $13 billion contract with Sierra Nevada to create a new generation of command aircraft.

Testing will continue until 2026 at bases in Ohio and Kansas. The new aircraft will feature more powerful communication systems, protection against electromagnetic pulses, advanced satellite communications, and increased payload. For the program, Sierra Nevada has already purchased four Boeing 747-8s and another five aircraft from Korean Air, which will be converted for military use.

The number of new E-4Cs is expected to remain close to the current fleet of four, with full delivery planned by 2036. According to the Pentagon, the modernization is part of a large-scale update of the NC3 system — the “nervous system” of America’s strategic forces, which includes satellites, ground bases, submarines, bombers and command aircraft.

The new “Doomsday Plane” is designed to ensure that the U.S. can maintain control of its nuclear forces under any conditions at least until the middle of the 21st century.