'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, often called the "Doomsday Plane," was deployed to Europe during President Biden's NATO meetings on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, underscoring an elevated defensive posture in the region.
Officially the National Airborne Operations Center (NAOC), this modified Boeing 747 is designed as a highly survivable flying command center for high-level military operations, including managing a U.S. nuclear strike.
Equipped with advanced communications and shielding against nuclear effects like electromagnetic pulses, the E-4B can operate for weeks with aerial refueling and carries a large team of military strategists.

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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.