US Navy’s ‘Doomsday Plane’ Disappears from Tracking During Mission

A US Navy Boeing E-6B Mercury, often referred to as a ‘Doomsday plane’, has become untraceable after its transponder was turned off during a mission over the Atlantic Ocean. This aircraft serves as a crucial command-and-control hub for the US Strategic Command, the Secretary of War, and the President, enabling communication in the event of a nuclear conflict.

The Mercury, one of only 16 such specialized aircraft, was last detected on public flight-tracking systems near Virginia Beach at approximately 08:30 EST on November 24, 2023. According to the Daily Mail, it departed from Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland, following a standard route southeast over the Chesapeake Bay before heading offshore.

Upon reaching a point approximately 60 miles east of the Virginia Capes, the aircraft’s public transponder was switched off, a common practice during sensitive operations. Once over the ocean, the E-6B typically enters classified warning zones and operates in a racetrack pattern for several hours, allowing it to send secure messages to submarines and ground stations.

The E-6B Mercury operates under the callsign AFD FE2 and is designed to support TACAMO (Take Charge and Move Out) missions. These missions are essential for maintaining communication between US strategic forces, including ballistic-missile submarines, and national command authorities during times of nuclear crisis. The aircraft is built to withstand nuclear blasts and survive electromagnetic pulses, which allows it to function even if ground-based command centers are incapacitated.

The operation of the Mercury comes shortly after the Thanksgiving holiday when US strategic forces often reduce their activities before resuming full readiness. The fleet of ‘Doomsday planes’ forms part of Operation Looking Glass, which is officially known as the Airborne Command Post. This operation ensures that the President and Secretary of War can maintain direct communication with military assets in the event of a catastrophic scenario.

Boeing manufactured the E-6B fleet between 1989 and 1992, equipping them with dual trailing wires that facilitate communication in the very low frequency spectrum. This design enables the aircraft to transmit orders effectively even in extreme conditions. The Mercury’s reliance on analogue technology, rather than digital systems, protects it from potential disruptions caused by electromagnetic pulses from nuclear detonations.

In March 2023, flight radar tracked a similar E-6B departing from Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma, conducting operations around Omaha where Offutt Air Force Base is located. This base plays a vital role in national command, control, and communications. The recent disappearance of the Mercury has raised interest in the nature and purpose of its current mission, particularly given that several other E-6B flights were noted on the same day, each lasting about an hour.

The full details of the operations conducted by these aircraft remain classified, but their strategic significance in maintaining national security is well recognized. As the situation develops, further insights may emerge regarding the role of the ‘Doomsday plane’ in contemporary military readiness.