The United States Air Force announced on Friday that it has granted Sierra Nevada Corp a $13 billion contract to construct a successor to the E-4B, also known as the Doomsday jet, due to its potential to withstand a nuclear war.
The Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC) initiative aims to replace the old 1970s-era aircraft that are nearing the end of their service lives, according to an Air Force official.
The Air Force currently has four E-4B aircraft, with at least one on alert at all times
The SAOC will be built in Colorado, Nevada, and Ohio, with completion scheduled for 2036, according to the Air Force.
To achieve operational needs, the weapon system will consist of a commercial derivative jet that has been hardened and modified to suit military standards.
While the E-4B is generally used to transport the US Secretary of Defense, it is also built as a mobile command post capable of withstanding nuclear blasts and electromagnetic effects, allowing US officials to deliver orders to the military in the case of a national emergency.
The E-4B is also capable of refueling mid-air and has meeting and briefing rooms, as well as advanced communications technology.
The Air Force currently has four E-4B aircraft, with at least one on alert at all times. The fleet of extensively modified Boeing 747-200 jumbo jets is becoming more difficult and expensive to operate as parts become obsolete.