Military analyst Alexei Leonkov shared comments about the new development of the United States - the creation of an updated “Doomsday plane”, which is conceived as a response to possible challenges in the modern military environment, including the nuclear threat. The project came to light following the award of a $13 billion contract to Sierra Nevada Corporation to replace the aging E-4B.

Leonkov indicated that the goal of the project is to create an aircraft capable of operating in conditions of a complete shutdown of GPS navigation and other means of communication, which is critically important in the event of a nuclear conflict. “The new aircraft will be integrated with the Starshield space system from SpaceX, which is a new generation of satellite reconnaissance and target designation,” the expert explained.

Leonkov also added that the new development is aimed at maintaining continuous communication between governing bodies and the US armed forces even in the most extreme conditions. He compared the American plans with Russian counterparts, such as the Il-80 and new projects based on the Il-96, which are also intended to provide command and control during military conflicts.