A Doomsday Plane Reminder: Nuclear Weapons Haven't Gone Away

Forbes ^ | 1/13/2015 | Loren Thompson

[Freeport]

Here’s a news item you may have missed over the holidays. The “doomsday planes” are being upgraded. Four E-4B flying command posts that would be used by U.S. leaders to manage military operations in a nuclear war will receive communications upgrades to enhance their “connectivity” during a conflict that could spell the end of civilization as we know it.

The reason you may have missed the story is that almost nobody besides InsideDefense.com reported it. National media were too busy covering more weighty matters like the efforts of North Korean agents to suppress a Sony film farce that insults the Dear Leader, and the attack on a French satirical magazine by a motley crew of extremists. How could nuclear Armageddon compete with that?

In fairness, the proposed upgrades to the “national airborne operations center” are just part of a routine reprogramming request that the Pentagon has submitted to Congress. But how often does any facet of the nation’s nuclear complex see the light of day in national media? Other than cheating scandals and an occasional misplaced weapon, the media have ceased paying attention to the most likely way in which America might one day disappear forever.

[Diogenesis]

If he is not impeached and/or indicted for fraud,
before he leaves, the First Moslem undocumented
pRes_ _ent will give control of these to his
Moslem Brotherhood/al Qaeda.

[Star Traveler]

Bombs away!

[Old Sarge]

Yea, verily yea.

[bert]

For the record, these planes are used to direct air battles that have nothing to do with nuclear war.

Further, the Saudi Air Force has included these planes for a very long time. I recall seeing them taking off fron Dhahran in the early 90’s

The Israeli planes attacking Iran will be guided by the Saudi AWACs....believe it

[SMARTY]

Maybe, but “O” has proved himself to be THE most unprincipled President in US history and documented enemy of the US, so I guess anything could be possible.

[TalonDJ]

No. This aircraft is not an AWAC

[mad_as_he$$]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_E-4

[Hulka]

"For the record, these planes are used to direct air battles that have nothing to do with nuclear war."

You are confusing the E-3 with the E-4.

E-3 is the airborne warning and control system used to ‘control’ the air battle. http://www.af.mil/AboutUs/FactSheets/Display/tabid/224/Article/104504/e-3-sentry-awacs.aspx

E-4 is the SHTF flying nuclear command post. http://www.af.mil/AboutUs/FactSheets/Display/tabid/224/Article/104503/e-4b.aspx

And no, Saudi AWACS would not be controlling anything. Saudis are inept and hardly can fly the thing, let alone properly use that asset. Besides, it is hardly reasonable to expect Israeli’s would actually TRSUT the Saudis.

[bert]

I looked it up and still got it wrong!