These aircrafts reportedly offer “survivable, reliable and endurable airborne Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications (NC3) for the president, secretary of defense and U.S. Strategic Command,” according to Navair, each valued at more than $140,000,000.
These planes are far from ordinary; they have the ability to remotely launch Minutemen intercontinental ballistic missiles and can refuel in-flight, allowing them to stay airborne for 72 consecutive hours.
The E-6B is a souped-up version of the E-4B, and is the only ‘Doomsday’ plane equipped to launch nuclear missiles, according to Intergalactic.
It also has the capability to communicate with submarines via its five-mile-long antenna.
While the exact operating costs of this specific plane remain undisclosed, its counterpart, the larger Air Force E-4B Nightwatch, which is similarly tasked in the face of nuclear emergencies, has considerable operating expenses.
Dubbed the ‘flying Oval Office’ or ‘flying war room,’ the Nightwatch acts as a military command center capable of withstanding a ballistic strike, ensuring the safety of the President and senior officials.
In addition to its emergency role, the Secretary of Defense uses it for international travel and press conferences.
Despite many details about the Nightwatch being classified, the US Air Force confirms a fleet of only four, each costing more than a hefty price tag.
Business Insider reports each E-4B jet costs $223.2 million to build, with operational expenses reaching $159,529 per hour.
These Nightwatch planes remain on ‘continuous alert’ 24/7, 365 days a year, with at least one believed to have been on permanent standby since 1975 during the Cold War.
They can remain airborne for extended periods without landing, equipped with special masks to shield pilots from nuclear flash blindness.
Their windows are designed to withstand electromagnetic shockwaves.
Presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan are the only presidents publicly documented to have boarded the E-4B, as noted by AirForceTimes.
Considering these details—and given the E-6B’s additional nuclear capabilities—the aircraft spotted this week likely shares similar, if not higher, operational costs.
Over time, all 16 of the Navy’s E-6Bs have undergone modifications, with several currently being upgraded under a $111 million contract deadline set for 2027.
Naval News quotes Captain Adam Scott, who stated that these upgrades ensure the jets “can perform their ‘nuclear deterrence mission better than ever’” and will enable the fleet to “successfully execute their mission for years to come.”
The E-6B Doomsday jet took off from Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma at approximately 9am on Monday (March 10) before making its way around Nebraska and Omaha, subsequently returning to base after seven hours.
US Strategic Command spokesperson Karen Singer clarified that the deployment was “pre-planned” and “purely coincidental” to President Donald Trump’s tariff announcement, which escalated the trade tensions between the US and countries like Canada, Mexico, and China.