"Both massive aircraft can act as the president's emergency operations hub in times of national security threats, such as a nuclear war. The plane "provides survivable, reliable and endurable airborne Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications (NC3) for the president, secretary of defense and U.S. Strategic Command," per the U.S. Navy. It is 150 feet long, was deployed in 1998 and cost $141.7 million."
"The plane at LAX was the Boeing E-4B Nightwatch and carried Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to Southern California as part of his monthlong "Arsenal of Freedom" tour, while the plane near Fresno was a Boeing E-6B Mercury apparently performing landing exercises."
"The overwhelming consensus was that such operations are relatively normal, but that the current state of world affairs - U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, with retaliatory strikes from Iran on Middle East neighbors - added some anxiety to an otherwise benign spotting."
Two Boeing aircraft capable of serving as the president's emergency operations center were spotted in California within two months, triggering public concern amid escalating U.S.-Iran tensions. The E-4B Nightwatch landed at Los Angeles International Airport carrying Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during his "Arsenal of Freedom" tour, while an E-6B Mercury performed landing exercises at Fresno Yosemite International Airport. These 150-foot aircraft, deployed since 1998 and costing $141.7 million each, provide nuclear command, control, and communications capabilities for the president and secretary of defense. Aviation enthusiasts and the public expressed anxiety about the sightings given current Middle East conflicts, though airport authorities confirmed the operations were routine and standard for the facilities.
#doomsday-planes #military-aircraft-operations #nuclear-command-and-control #iran-tensions #aviation-security
Read at Los Angeles Times
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