Nightwatch Aircraft:Air Force Moves Ahead to Replace Doomsday Planes

As of this writing,only one defence contractor,the privately held Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC),remains in the running for an 8.3 billion dollar contract to replace the current fleet of four US Air Force E-4B Nightwatch aircraft,often called the Doomsday planes because of their ability to withstand the radiological and electromagnetic effects of a nuclear war or other catostrophic circumstances.The future fleet of Nightwatch aircraft is called the Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC) project.These aircraft also serve as the personal aircraft of the Secretary of Defense and shadow the President of the United States when he travels in an AN-25 Air Force One plane.Boeing withdrew from consideration on the grounds of the expense to the contractor involved in fixed price contracts.Fixed price contracts require the contractor to absorb cost overruns themselves.Boeing is already in the hole for the NASA CST-100 Starliner spacecraft and the replacement of the AN-25 Air Force One planes,to the tune of 1.3 billion dollars.* The E-4B is considered part of the nuclear deterrence force,as it provides Command and Control of all nuclear forces,including low frequency communication with ballistic missile submarines.The main mission of the SAOC is to provide a robust and survivable platform for the President of the United States and other senior leaders,via the National Command Authority mechanism,to initiate nuclear strikes and assure Continuity of Government while directing other major military operations,or respond to significant contingencies such as large-scale natural disasters.* The E-4B must be a large,four-engine airliner derivative,so are expected to be unused or lightly used Boeing 747-8 jumbo jets.They must be powerful enough to fulfill the Take Charge and Move Out (TACAMO) function;the nuclear command role;communications and security;as well as the essential redundancies.For its part,SNC recently held a ribbon cutting for one of a planned four maintenance,repair and overhaul hangers with attached painting facilities at its new Dayton,Ohio complex.The exact requirements for the SAOC are classified.SNC does have specialties in data and communications modifications to existing aircraft.It can perform post-production modifications without access to sensitive proprietary data from the original manufacturers.SNC has already identified appropriate aircraft for the project through X-ray screening.A competitive contract award by the Air Force is expected in early 2024.*The fleet will consist of an initial 8-10 aircraft,although it could be expanded to reinstate the Cold War Operation Looking Glass role in light of the hypersonic weapons threat posed by Russia and China,with an estimated warning time of only fifteen minutes.In Looking Glass,one of the aircraft is aloft 24/7/365 under the command of a general officer.*The Nightwatch aircraft are considered Weapons Systems.SNC has provided the Air Force with an Airlift/Tanker Open Missions Systems kit (ATOMS) kit.It uses existing antennas and cables to provide line-of-sight and beyond data connections to networks such as Link 16,giving aircraft more situational awareness.Such connectivity for a mobile fleet is considered essential by the Air Force.

How Much Does ISIL Threaten Afghanistan?-plus where the A-29 aircraft fits in

We have seen some ISIL recruiting in different parts of the country,General John Campbell,US Army,operations commander of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan,told the House Armed Services Committee.We have seen some night letter drops by ISIL.The dynamics in Afghanistan are not the same as in Iraq.We will see it and we will continue to monitor it,and we have a strategy for the short,medium and long-term.The senior leadership in the Afghan army and police have told me that they will not let ISIL do what they did in Iraq and Syria.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani wants to make sure his intelligence forces are keeping a close watch.He gets several security updates a day.I think they view ISIL as a potential threat and make sure that they have a strategy.Intel drives ops,and that's what we try to instil in our Afghan partners.Intel is one of the eight essential functions that we continue to build at all the ministry levels.I take a look at the conditions on the ground.I do believe the best thing we can do is continue to build their close air support and special forces.
Less than 10% of the Afghan people embrace the Taliban militants.The people are plain and simple just tired of this,of the Taliban and what they represent.That's different from the way it was just a few years ago.*
Asked by Representative Jackie Walorski,R-Indiana,what the Plan B was,the plan for if things go awry in Afghanistan,GEN Campbell requested to reply in a closed session or by letter.*
If things go awry,GEN Campbell continued in open session,our plan for re-engagement,our goal really is to build the Afghan capacity.The Taliban and their message is not having any traction with the Afghan people.It's time for the Taliban to become part of the process.I think that's really where we're going with the Taliban.
The first thing I always get asked for is close air support.Once we get their close air,intel,sustainment and medical,I'd feel better.On my Priority Intelligence Requirements,I said I need to know more about ISIL,and that's why I made it a PIR.It could grow very rapidly.It is a nascent organisation.It grew very quickly in Iraq and Syria.It has the potential to jump developmental stages.
I want to make sure what assurances I have that released detainees will not attack our forces again.I want to be tied in with that.Eighty-five percent of the people in Kabul feel comfortable with a coalition presence,and want to have it around.The Afghans do have indirect fire-they have mortars and Howitzers,but they're looking forward to the A-29 aircraft.*
The A-29 Super Tucano Embraer EMB 314 turboprop is for light attack,counter-insurgency,close air support and reconnaissance in low threat environments,as well as being for advanced training.It is designed for austere environments with conditions such as high temperatures and humidity in extremely rugged terrain.The popular aircraft is highly maneuverable,has a low heat signature,fourth generation avionics and weapons systems to deliver precision guided munitions.With a speed of 368.47 miles per hour and a range of 2995 miles,it is currently in service with the air forces of Brazil,Columbia,Chile,Indonesia and the Philippines.The US Air Force has ordered 20 of them for training and equipping the Afghan air force.The first of the Tucanos arrived at Moody Air Force Base,Georgia on 26 September 2014.A few more will be delivered from December 2015 into 2016;but most will arrive from 2017-18,according to GEN Campbell.They will replace the Afghans' Mi-35 helicopters and expand their mission sets.A total of 30 Afghan pilots and 90 maintainers will be trained at Moody AFB with the assistance of contract personnel from Sierra Nevada Corporation.*
The complexity of the world we live in is a generational piece that we will have long after you and I have left,GEN Campbell reflected.I do see Afghanistan as a place that can be the bright spot for very little continued investment.Afghanistan can be the shining light of Central Asia.For every suicide vest that goes off in Kabul,there are 10 more that are stopped.*
Embraer SA (ERJ)