If you spot a large aircraft approximately two-thirds the size of an American football field and as tall as a five-story building gliding through the sky, it could signify one of two possibilities.
There are two situations in which this massive aircraft might be seen flying overhead. The first is straightforward: US government officials are utilizing the militarized Boeing 747-200 for transportation.
The second scenario is more unsettling, as explained by the US Air Force regarding its E-4B aircraft, also known as Nightwatch.
According to its mission statement: “The E-4B ‘Nightwatch’ serves as the National Airborne Operations Center and is a key component of the National Military Command System for the President, the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
“In case of national emergency or destruction of ground command and control centers, the aircraft provides a highly survivable command, control and communications center to direct U.S. forces, execute emergency war orders, and coordinate actions by civil authorities.
“The conduct of E-4B operations encompasses all phases of the threat spectrum. Additionally, the E-4B provides outside the continental United States travel support for the Secretary of Defense and his staff to ensure Title 10 command and control connectivity.”
In straightforward terms, the plane is designed for scenarios where the White House and Pentagon face nuclear threats. Given recent tensions, Washington, D.C. could potentially be a target for leaders such as North Korea’s Kim Jong Un and Russia’s Vladimir Putin.
Four of these aircraft exist, each stationed at the Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska, which also houses the US Strategic Command.
What attributes make these planes capable of withstanding nuclear impacts?
Firstly, consider their size: 231 feet in length, 63 feet in height, and a wingspan of 195 feet. They weigh 800,000 pounds, equivalent to the weight of 80 African elephants airborne.
Equipped with four electric turbofan engines, each engine provides a thrust of 52,000 pounds, totaling 208,000 pounds of thrust.
These planes are also fitted with nuclear and thermal effects shielding, an air-conditioning system for cooling electrical components, and have the capability to refuel mid-air, allowing them to fly continuously for up to 12 hours.
Each plane costs an astounding $223.2 million, and one is always on standby 24/7 to support the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.