'Doomsday' plane protects US president from disaster

To prepare for especially dangerous situations, such as a nuclear war, the US created specialized aircraft, often referred to as "doomsday" planes.

An E-4B parked at Bogota International Airport, Colombia. Photo: USAF

Washington appears to have four of these planes, according to the NY Post. The "doomsday" plane looks quite similar to the Air Force One planes that carry the US president and his entourage, but the difference lies in the fact that it will act as a command center for the government and military in the event of a nuclear war.

American experts upgraded it from the Boeing 747 model. The "doomsday" plane is often referred to by the designation E-4B or "Airborne National Security Operations Center".

The plane is said to be able to survive a nuclear bomb blast, a meteorite blast, or a terrorist attack, and can fly for days without refueling. In fact, it can operate for about a week with the need to refuel in the air. The only reason it lands is because the engine needs lubrication, which can only be done on the ground.

The plane has three floors. It has a crew of 112, making it the largest military aircraft in the US, and even the world. Technically, the plane can reach a speed of up to 998 km/h, faster than commercial aircraft of the same type.

The aircraft, which costs about $223 million, is equipped with a protective shield against radiation and electromagnetic pulses, 67 antennas and satellite dishes, and a host of other high-tech equipment.

The communications equipment is located in a special bubble behind the cockpit. It also connects to American nuclear submarines under the sea via an 8 km long cable located at the tail of the plane.

"We dropped it to transmit coded messages to submarines," ABC News quoted a US military official as saying. "Give us the phone number of anyone, anytime, anywhere on this Earth, and we will contact them."

Inside the cockpit of a "doomsday" plane. Photo: CBS

The aircraft are always ready to perform missions, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and can be launched in just minutes.

In addition to modern technology, the plane also carries an elite security team. As soon as the plane lands, this force will immediately surround it for protection.

However, in addition to its advantages, the "doomsday" plane still has some disadvantages, typically the bathroom on the plane is very small, has a sink but no shower.

Former US President Ronald Reagan commissioned the first "doomsday" plane in the 1980s as the Cold War entered its final stages and concerns about a nuclear war scenario were widespread.

Some witnesses said they saw the plane in the sky after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. However, US officials have not made any comments regarding the above suspicion.

According to VNE