Air Force awards SNC $13B contract for new ‘Doomsday’ plane

VANDALIA — The Air Force has awarded Sierra Nevada Corp (SNC) a $13 billion contract to deliver a replacement for the service’s E-4B “Doomsday” plane, the service announced last week.

The contract for the new Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC) is expected to run through July 2036, according to the announcement. The program will replace the Air Force’s aging fleet of four E-4B planes, known as Nightwatch or the National Airborne Operations Center, which typically transport the Defense Secretary but can also act as a mobile nuclear command and control outpost.

According to SNC, the contract for the new Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC) is expected to run through July 2036. The program will replace the Air Force’s aging fleet of four E-4B planes, known as Nightwatch or the National Airborne Operations Center, which typically transport the Defense Secretary but can also act as a mobile nuclear command and control outpost. The contract is a major boost for SNC, which has been modifying smaller aircraft. The company is now expected to modify Boeing’s own 747-8i aircraft.

According to an article in Interesting Engineering, the contract “provides for the development and production of the SAOC Weapon System to include the delivery of engineering and manufacturing development aircraft, associated ground systems, production aircraft, and interim contractor support. Work will be performed in Englewood, Colorado; Sparks, Nevada; Beavercreek, Ohio; and Vandalia, Ohio, and is expected to be completed by July 10, 2036.”