The United States Air Force has begun flight testing the new E-4C SAOC, an aircraft that will replace the E-4B “Nightwatch” fleet, which has been in service since the 1970s.
The first flight took place in August 2025 in Dayton, Ohio, conducted by Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), the lead contractor for the project. The program is part of the modernization of the Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications (NC3) system, ensuring that the nation’s leadership maintains command capability even in crisis or nuclear conflict scenarios.
The $13 billion contract signed in 2024 provides for the development, modification, and support of the new aircraft, which will be based on the Boeing 747-8. To date, SNC has acquired five units for conversion and is working in partnership with companies like Collins Aerospace, GE Aerospace, Lockheed Martin, and Rolls-Royce. The schedule calls for the full fleet to be delivered by 2036, with testing and adaptation campaigns conducted in Ohio and Kansas.
The new E-4C aircraft are expected to replace the current “doomsday planes,” offering greater resistance to nuclear and electronic threats, as well as modular systems and in-flight refueling.
With four aircraft already in operation in the E-4B fleet, the Air Force is expected to maintain at least the same number of planes to ensure continuous availability, thereby strengthening the strategic command and control capabilities of the U.S. in critical situations.
Source: The Aviationist | Photo: X @SierraNevCorp | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
SNC is building the airborne command center of the future! SAOC is a highly specialized aircraft that ensures continued critical command, control and communication during national emergencies for POTUS, SECDEF and CJCS. We’re honored to support this important mission. pic.twitter.com/krqjfwXtoM
— Sierra Nevada Corporation (@SierraNevCorp) April 28, 2024
