The United States' newest doomsday plane is being developed and its design has already been shown. Called the doomsday plane or doomsday plane because it will be used as a command center in case of extreme situations such as nuclear war.
America's best known doomsday plane is the Air Force-operated Boeing E-4B Nightwatch. Reportedly, this plane was in Europe accompanying President Joe Biden's visit in the midst of the war between Russia and Ukraine.
Well apparently not only the US Air Force has a doomsday plane but also the Navy. Currently, the Navy operates a total of 16 Boeing E-6B Mercury doomsday aircraft, which can be used as a command center for America's nuclear forces.
The doomsday plane has been in operation since 1989 so it is quite old. Well, the company Lockheed Martin has released a concept for a new doomsday plane called the EC-130J TACAMO (Take Charge And Move Out).
America's new doomsday plane. Photo: Lockheed Martin
"We stand ready to support the TACAMO AL modernization efforts with the unrivaled C-130J Super Hercules. As the most advanced Hercules aircraft ever built, the Super Hercules provides the capability to support the TACAMO mission," said a Lockheed Martin spokesman.
The rejuvenation of this doomsday plane may be carried out, among other things, by considering the increasingly vulnerable geopolitical situation, especially regarding the Russian attack on Ukraine. Some even mention the potential for nuclear war.
Then what are the capabilities of this new doomsday plane belonging to the United States? Of course there are various modifications of aircraft in general because they must always be on standby and fly for a long time when there is an extreme war situation.
As quoted from Interesting Engineering, the EC-130J TCAMO doomsday plane is equipped with 4 artificial turboprop engines. It is about 30 meters long.
While the cruising speed is 400 kilometers per hour and can climb fast enough to reach operational altitude in less than 15 minutes.
Typically used as a cargo carrier, the EC-130J TCAMO can carry loads of up to 58 thousand kilograms. While the passenger capacity is 6 plus.
Based on the illustration, the doomsday plane is equipped with a sophisticated communication system. There is a very-low-frequency (VLF) communications system and structures for satellite communications on the wings and fuselage.
At the bottom of the wingtip, there is a device for the downlink antenna as a means of communicating with devices on the ground. This aircraft is planned to begin testing in 2026 and is considered to have met all the requirements as a US doomsday plane.
Among them is the ability to continue to operate fully even if one engine is off, anywhere and anytime. It can also be maneuvered upright enough at low speeds, to ensure that the VLF antenna can be vertical enough to maximize transmission effectiveness.