'Doomsday Plane' Accompanies Biden, Underscoring Heightened Tensions

As President Joe Biden traveled in Europe on Thursday for NATO meetings linked to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the so-called “Doomsday Plane,” a U.S. Air Force E-4B Nightwatch, wasn’t too far away.

Thom Patterson

Thursday, March 24, 2022 at 04:15 PM ET

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The U.S. Air Force E-4B Nightwatches are highly modified military versions of Boeing’s 747-200. [Courtesy U.S. Air Force]

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. Air Force E-4B Nightwatch, dubbed the "Doomsday Plane," was tracked in Europe during President Biden's NATO meetings on Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
This specialized aircraft serves as a National Airborne Operations Center (NAOC) or "flying Pentagon," designed to function as a highly survivable command platform for senior leaders during high-level military operations, including nuclear conflicts.
Its presence, though not uncommon for presidential trips, highlights the elevated defensive posture and geopolitical tensions in the region due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

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Designed to serve as a flying war room, one of four E-4Bs—officially dubbed the National Airborne Operations Center (NAOC)—was spotted this week by ADS-B tracking apps en route from the U.S. to Europe in advance of Biden’s Air Force One flight to NATO headquarters in Brussels. On Thursday, apps tracked the plane—call sign GRIM99—over England.