(Reuters) – The U.S. Air Force said on Friday it has awarded a $13 billion contract to Sierra Nevada Corp to develop a successor to the E-4B, known as the Doomsday plane because of its ability to survive nuclear war.
The Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC) project is designed to replace aging 1970s-era aircraft that are nearing the end of their service life, an Air Force spokesman said in a statement.
Work on the SAOC will take place in Colorado, Nevada and Ohio and is expected to be completed in 2036, the Air Force added.
To meet operational requirements, the weapon system will consist of a commercial jet aircraft enhanced and modified to meet military requirements.
In December, Reuters reported that the US Air Force had excluded Boeing (NYSE:) from the competition to develop a successor to the E-4B Nightwatch.
Although the E-4B is typically used to transport the US Secretary of Defense, it is designed as a mobile command post capable of withstanding nuclear explosions and electromagnetic effects, allowing US leaders to deliver orders to the military in the event of a national emergency.
The E-4B is also capable of mid-air refueling, has conference and briefing rooms and advanced communications equipment.
The Air Force currently operates four E-4B aircraft, at least one of which remains operational at all times. The fleet of heavily modified Boeing 747-200 airliners is becoming increasingly difficult and expensive to maintain as parts become obsolete.
The E-4B is expected to end its service life in the early 2030s.
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