A guide to the 'doomsday plane': The US airborne command center

As President Donald Trump weighs whether helium volition target Iranian atomic facilities amid escalating Israel-Iran conflict, the president’s U.S. Air Force E-4B Nightwatch, besides known arsenic the "doomsday plane," is present attracting attention, having reportedly landed astatine Joint Base Andrews extracurricular Washington, D.C., earlier this week, according to the New York Post and different media.

In effect to inquiries astir the alleged Nightwatch landing, officials from Joint Base Andrews told Fox News Digital that "as a substance of operational security, we cannot remark connected circumstantial determination oregon intent of the [National Airborne Operations Center] oregon different craft connected our flightline." Other reports accidental the level is nary longer successful the Washington country and is backmost astatine its location base.

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Here’s what to cognize astir the E-4B Nightwatch:

Military unit nonstop a E-4B Nightwatch astatine the Lincoln Airport connected Tuesday, April 26, 2022. The planes, colloquially known arsenic the doomsday planes, usually alert retired of Offutt Air Force Base successful Bellevue, Nebraska, but are successful Lincoln portion that runway is being rebuilt.  (Chris Machian /Omaha World-Herald via AP)

What is the E-4B? 

The E-4B is simply a Boeing 747-200 that has been militarized and is operated by the U.S. Air Force. Designed during the Cold War, the level tin stay airborne for up to a week and is capable to refuel successful midair.

Sixty-seven antennas and outer dishes let the Nightwatch to pass with individuals worldwide. 

The U.S. maintains a fleet of 4 E-4Bs, built astatine a outgo of $438.76 cardinal each.

Whom does the E-4B protect?

A U.S. Air Force E-4B assigned to the 595th Command and Control Group, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., flies connected a grooming sortie implicit the Midwest, May, 15, 2024. The E-4B is simply a militarized mentation of the Boeing 747-200, consisting of 4 engines and a swept-wing design. It is susceptible of long-range, high-altitude operations and in-flight aerial refueling.  (U.S. Air Force photograph by Tech. Sgt. Codie Trimble)

The E-4B is designed arsenic a mobile bid station that allows nationalist information officials, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the President, and the Secretary of Defense to proceed moving the authorities during a atomic conflict. 

According to a USAF property release, it is besides utilized for planetary question by the Secretary of Defense. 

"Additionally, the E-4B provides extracurricular the continental United States question enactment for the Secretary of Defense and his unit to guarantee Title 10 bid and power connectivity." According to the Aviation Zone, successful 1994 FEMA was authorized to usage the level arsenic a power and bid halfway during earthy disasters.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth signs a memorandum aboard an E-4B Nightwatch craft portion flying implicit the Pacific Ocean, March 28, 2025.  (DOD photograph by U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Madelyn Keech)

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Publicly disposable U.S. Air Force data states that "at slightest 1 E4-B is ever generated arsenic a NAOC and connected alert 24 hours a day, 7 days a week" to enactment elder defence officials. 

The E-4B tin clasp a unit of 112. Onboard, officials person entree to 18 bunks, six bathrooms, a league room, communications space, a briefing country and a remainder area.

Lt. Col. Mike Moone, a navigator connected a E-4B Nightwatch, prepares for takeoff astatine the Lincoln Airport connected Tuesday, April 26, 2022.  (Chris Machian /Omaha World-Herald via AP)

Why usage the E4-B? 

The Air Force says that "the behaviour of E-4B operations encompasses each phases of the menace spectrum." The Nightwatch tin withstand an electromagnetic pulse and tin past atomic blasts and cyberattacks. 

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What is the existent threat?

Leaders wrong Iran person threatened retaliation against the U.S. successful the lawsuit it enters the Israel-Iran conflict. Theresa Payton, erstwhile White House main accusation serviceman and CEO of the cybersecurity steadfast Fortalice Solutions, told Fox News Digital that the Islamic Regime whitethorn prepare a high-impact cyberattack connected the U.S. "as it becomes much and much desperate."

Lt. Col. Peter J. Amaral, left, and Maj. Ted DeBonis exit a E-4B Nightwatch astatine the Lincoln Airport connected Tuesday, April 26, 2022.  (Chris Machian /Omaha World-Herald via AP)

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The president is said to beryllium deciding whether to usage the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber to present a bid of 30,000-pound GBU-57 Massive Ordinance Penetrators, besides known arsenic "bunker busters," to destruct Iran’s well-fortified Fordow atomic facility, which whitethorn prevarication further than 300 feet beneath mountainous rock.

While Israel targeted facilities associated with the Iranian subject and Iran’s atomic program, connected June 19, Iran struck Soroka Hospital, the largest infirmary successful confederate Israel, with a ballistic missile, causing damage.