U.S. ‘doomsday plane’ takeoff for exercise | Hacker News Reader

U.S. ‘doomsday plane’ takeoff for exercise

defence-blog.com

34 pointsDefenceBlog14 comments

I don't think this aircraft, former callsign "NIGHTWATCH-01" is used much any more.

In its place, is a group of US Navy TACAMO E-6B Aircraft, which are basically converted Boeing 707's outfitted with sophisticated communications equipment. There are usually 3 to 4 of these E-6 Mercury's in the air at any given point during the day.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_E-6_Mercury

The reason why the US Navy operates them is they host a huge long-wire antenna that unspools out of the tail of the aircraft and is used to communicate VLF (very low frequency) transmissions to submarines. It is super slow speed data - usually along the lines of "surface for more info" type messages. But since they provide that critical communications link to submarines, from an airborne capacity, they've been pressed into service to function as an overall airborne command post.

Their primary communications capabilities are:

1) VLF as mentioned above, using a long wire spool out the tail to send short messages to submarines.

2) Satellite - to maintain general worldwide coverage

3) UHF Orderwire - which is a nationwide air to ground digital/analog orderwire network - basically a huge digital data and voice conference line. The ground based GEP (Ground Entry Points) are interconnected via AT&T hardened communications links and hosted on AT&T microwave towers all across the country.

4) UHF Air to Ground capabilities to send command and control messages to US missile silos

5) HF Radio communications capabilities as a backup to satellite and orderwire.

The E-4B deploys in parallel with the VC-25 on AF1/2 missions, though to a different destination airport. Except for very short range ( intra-CONUS ) or where the destination can't handle a 747, when a VC-32 goes instead as the bailout bird.

Alternatively, quite often SECDEF will use the E-4B as his personal transport on overseas trips; changes to accommodations were made accordingly.

Callsigns are usually something cool such as DOOM25 or FLASH22.

Very dumb question. But wouldn't it be good to paint one of these planes to look like a passenger jet or Fedex cargo jet?

If there is a world war/end of the world type event, would there be a benefit to blending in? Or would it not matter the enemy would be able to tell?

I guess the jet meant to blend in would not be covered in a military blog.

Anything in visual range could tell what it is rather quickly.

Any SIG/ELINT capable aircraft would also be able to tell what it is.

It also isn’t going to be flying without escort in any real use nor it’s ever intended to be used in contested or denied airspace.

This just allows POTUS to be in a secure and mobile location while a more permanent solution can be found even tho it’s capable of being refueled in flight and has supplies for days if not weeks this isn’t intended to be used as a long term solution the engines can’t run indefinitely even if it constantly gets refueled.

They’d be able to tell.

Then you’d make every similar civilian plane a target

> If there is a world war/end of the world type event

then it would be highly probable that the least of your troubles is blending in.

you should see the bunkers congress built themselves with taxpayer money, like we really want them to be the only ones to survive

somewhere by now, some general has decided he wants to monitor icbms via internet and the lowest bidder has used something wildly unpatched and never updated

btw after seeing how half the population refuses to isolate or even wear a mask can you just imagine them actually staying in bunkers during nuclear fallout, deadly radiation just like a virus they can't see so how can it possibly hurt them?

> you should see the bunkers congress built themselves with taxpayer money

One of Congress' duties is to declare war. So they need to be alive to authorize the use of military force. Should they have built their former bunker at a luxury hotel? Well, it provided a good cover story, and if you've seen the videos of it, they were sleeping in metal bunk beds, so not all that luxurious in the bunker itself.

> monitor icbms via internet

The USAF is very serious about securing those systems. They aren't even going to use SIPRNet for that. They have watched War Games too.

> can you just imagine them actually staying in bunkers during nuclear fallout

I was trained as a radiological monitor in high school and would have collected readings for determining when it was safe to go out, or more likely, which part of the improvised shelter provided the most protection. This isn't Switzerland where bunker construction is part of the federal building code.

edit Here's an article about Swiss bunkers. https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/prepared-for-anything_bunkers-f...

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23206415

Seriously, you linked to a conspiracy website on Hacker News?

What in that paper do you object to? It's fully sourced, by a neuroscientist. Lets chat it about it in it's own thread if you are interested.

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15003606

First sentence of your article, emphasis added.

> With the advent of the so-called COVID-19 pandemic

Lol sure bud its "fullly sourced."

Edit

It was an intetesting read though. Crux of ths argument is that mask use reduces oxygen intake and increases strain lungs and that lower blood oxygen content can lower immune system function.

Neat find, but unfortunately the conclusion is bullshit.

You dont wear a mask to protect yourself, you wear it to protect others in case you are infected. You dont wear them all the time, obviously only when youre in public areas like a grocery store.

If your lung function is low to the point thay you cant wear a mask while grocery shopping then order your groceries online or send a friend.

Masks are not established to reduce the spread of CV's. They will however lower the blood oxygen content of the people using them. It's entirely possible they are a net negative.

Also, a non trivial # of people are driving with then, walking outside, riding their bike... I could go on.

And then theres that psychological elephant in the room.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com