Top secret information about the US military 'Doomsday' plane
In the event of a nuclear war, a four-star general of the US military will take charge of dealing with the imminent attack. This general will carry out the orders of the US President from a special plane called “Doomsday”.
In the event of a nuclear war, this specially designed aircraft would also be tasked with following Air Force One carrying the US President, and would also serve as a command center.
|
| The "Doomsday" plane. Photo: CNN |
The head of the US Strategic Command, General John Hyten, said in an exclusive interview with CNN in early March: “I have only minutes to get on that plane and take off to a safe distance before the nuclear weapons reach here.”
At Offutt Air Force Base in eastern Nebraska, there is a countdown clock that warns Hyten of incoming missiles, and also tells him how much time he has left to get to the Doomsday Plane.
“Doomsday” is a US Navy Boeing E-6B aircraft that acts as an airborne command post where General Hyten or his superiors can carry out the President's orders.
|
| "Doomsday" can carry a crew of 100 people. Photo: thesun |
The cost of producing each “Doomsday” aircraft – officially called the National Air Operations Center – is about $250 million, and an hour of operating this vehicle will also “cost” $160,000.
In addition, the “Doomsday” is capable of withstanding electromagnetic bombs. The crew on the “Doomsday” only uses traditional flight guidance means to minimize the possibility of cyber attacks.
|
| On the plane there are phones that can contact individuals around the world if necessary. Photo: thesun |
“On this plane, we know where the president is, where the presidential candidates are, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the secretary of defense, we track all the important people,” said Brigadier General Gregory Bowen, deputy director of the Strategic Command Global Operations Center.
In addition to nuclear advisors, the “Doomsday” plane also has a meteorologist who constantly monitors weather conditions around the world to determine where nuclear weapons might move and then transmits this information to US bombers.
The aircraft can be refueled in the air to fly continuously for days. In addition, the “Doomsday” also has communication channels with US military submarines to transmit orders without having to land.
|
| Control panel on the plane. Photo: Thesun |
And importantly, “Doomsday” has the controls to launch intercontinental ballistic missiles in case things go wrong on the ground. Brigadier General Bowen affirmed: “If all the personnel at the missile control centers are killed by the attack or are unable to communicate, we have the ability to directly control and launch the missiles.”
