Boeing E-4
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Boeing E-4B Nightwatch | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| A U.S. Air Force photograph of an E-4B in flight. | |
| Type | Airborne command post |
| Manufacturer | Boeing |
| Retired | 2012 |
| Primary user | United States Air Force |
| Unit cost | US$250 million |
The Boeing E-4B Nightwatch, formerly known as NEACP (National Emergency Airborne Command Post - pronounced "Kneecap") and sometimes called NAOC (National Airborne Operations Center), is a Boeing 747-200 aircraft specially built to serve as a survivable mobile command post for the President of the United States of America and his chiefs of staff in the event of a nuclear war, in which its job would be to facilitate war orders if ground communications are destroyed. For this reason, E-4Bs are sometimes referred as "the doomsday planes." Four are currently operated by the United States Air Force, and are assigned to the 1st Airborne Command Control Squadron (1ACCS) of the 55th Wing at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. Maintenance and crews are provided by Air Combat Command, while operations are coordinated by United States Strategic Command.
The first E-4A was completed at the Boeing plant outside Seattle, Washington in 1974. Two more E-4A's were built by Boeing throughout the 1970's. In 1979 Boeing completed an upgraded E-4B, which was distinguished from the earlier version by the presence of a large "hump" on the dorsal surface directly behind the upper deck. This contains the aircraft's satellite communications equipment. By 1980 all three E-4A's had been upgraded to E-4B models. The E-4B is specially modified to weather nuclear warfare conditions. Its computers and communications systems are shielded from electromagnetic pulse, and its air conditioning system is specially modified to block radiation.
With a cost of approximately US$250 million each, the E-4B is the third most expensive aircraft ever to enter the U.S. Air Force inventory, behind the B-2 Spirit, which cost an estimated $2.2 billion and the C-17A approximately 282.3 million each. The E-4B is operated with a crew of 60 to 114 people, the largest crew of any aircraft in U.S. Air Force history.
Contents |
[edit] Station layout
The E-4B has three operational decks:
[edit] Upper Deck
[edit] The Flight Deck
The flight deck contains the pilot's, copilot's, navigator's and flight engineer's stations. A lounge area and sleeping quarters for flight crews and other personnel are located aft of the flight deck.
[edit] Middle Deck
[edit] The Conference Room/Projection Room
The middle deck contains the conference room, which provides a secure area for conferences and briefings. It contains a nine-position executive conference table with executive chairs. Aft of the conference room is a projection room serving the conference room and the briefing room. The projection room has the capability of projecting computer graphics, overhead transparencies or 35mm slides to either the conference room or the briefing room either singularly or simultaneously.
[edit] Operations Team Area
Behind the projection room is the operations team area containing the automatic data processing equipment and seats and console work areas for 29 staff members. The consoles are configured to provide access to or from the automated data processing, automatic switchboard, direct access telephone and radio circuits, direct ("hot") lines, monitor panel for switchboard lines, staff and operator inter-phone and audio recorder.
[edit] Control Area
The aft end of the main deck is divided into a technical control area and a rest area. The enclosed technical control area, which occupies the left forward part of the compartment, contains a technical control console, multiplexer, SHF SATCOM, console, and patch and test assembly.
[edit] Rest Area
The rest area, which occupies the remaining portion of the aft main deck, provides a rest and sleeping area for the crew members.
[edit] Forward Entry Area
Within the forward entry area is the main galley unit and stairways to the flight deck and to the forward lower equipment area. This area contains refrigerators, freezers, a convection oven and a microwave oven to give stewards the capability to provide more than 100 hot meals during prolonged missions. Additionally, four seats are located on the left side of the forward entry area for the security guards and the stewards.
[edit] NCA Area
Behind the forward entry area is the NCA area, which is designed and furnished as an executive suite. It contains an office, a lounge and sleeping area, and a dressing room. Telephone instruments in this area provide the NCA with secure and clear worldwide communications.
[edit] Briefing Room
The briefing room contains a briefing table with three executive seats, eighteen additional seats, a lectern and two rear projection screens.
[edit] Communications Control Area
The communications control area is divided into a voice area and a data area. The voice area, located on the right side of the compartment, contains the radio operator's console, the semi-automatic switchboard console and the communication officer's console. The data area, located on the left side of the area, contains the record communications console, record data supervisor's console, high speed DATA/AUTODIN/AFSAT console and LF/VLF control heads.
[edit] Flight Avionics Area
The flight avionics area contains the aircraft systems power panels, flight avionics equipment, liquid oxygen converters and stowage for baggage and spare parts.
[edit] Lower Deck
[edit] Forward Lower Equipment Room
The forward lower equipment room contains the aircraft's water supply tanks, 1200 KVA electrical power panels, step down transformers, VLF transmitter and SHF SATCOM equipment. Electrically operated retractable stairs, located in the forward right side of the forward lower equipment area, are installed for airplane entry and exit.
[edit] The Aft Lower Equipment Area
The aft lower equipment area contains the maintenance console and mission specific equipment.
[edit] The Lower Antenna Area
The lower trailing wire antenna area contains the aircraft's 5 mile long trailing wire antenna reel, the antenna operator's station as well as the antenna reel controls and indicators.
[edit] Design
The E-4B is designed to survive an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) with systems intact, and has state-of-the-art direct fire countermeasures. With in-flight refueling it is capable of remaining airborne for more than a week, and possibly longer, limited only by corruption of the engine's lubricants. It takes two fully loaded KC-135 tankers to fully refuel an E-4B.
The NAOC fleet was originally deployed in 1974, when it was termed NEACP (National Emergency Airborne Command Post). It was originally stationed at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, alongside Air Force One, so that the President and Secretary of Defense could access it quickly in the event of an emergency. Later, the aircraft were moved to Offutt Air Force Base where they would be safer from attack.
The USAF Strategic Air Command had E-4 Nightwatchs in service from 1975 through 1991.
Until 1994 one E-4B was stationed at Andrews Air Force Base at all times so the president could easily board it in times of world crisis. This ended when President Clinton ordered the aircraft to remain at Offutt unless needed, though relief crews remain based at Andrews, and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. One E-4B is kept on full alert at all times.
With the adoption of two highly-modified Boeing 747-200Bs (known as VC-25As in Air Force parlance) to serve as Air Force One in 1989, and the end of the Cold War, the need for NEACP diminished. In 1994, NEACP began to be known as NAOC, and it took on a new responsibility: ferrying Federal Emergency Management Agency crews to natural disaster sites and serving as a temporary command post on the ground until facilities could be built on site.
The origin of the name "Nightwatch" comes from the richly detailed Rembrandt painting of the same name depicting local townsfolk protecting a town and was selected by the Squadron's first commanding officer.
The E-4B is often responsible for Air Force One sightings.
The E-4B is being used more frequently since it was chosen by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfield as his preferred means of transport when traveling outside the United States. No less than 60 crew members must accompany the aircraft whenever he uses it, more than usually required to operate Air Force One.
[edit] Recent Developments
In January, 2006 Donald Rumsfeld announced that the entire E-4B fleet will be retired starting in 2009. One aircraft will be eliminated from inventory each year, with the last aircraft to be retired in 2012. They may be replaced by two Boeing C-32's upgraded to provide broadcasting capabilities for the president in the event of nuclear war or a national emergency. These aircraft will not have the sophisticated command and control capabilities of the current E-4B fleet, although several E-8's may be upgraded to similar command capabilities, though not designed to accommodate the presidential staff in the event of a national emergency.
[edit] Popular culture
The E-4B plays a prominent role in two motion pictures, appearing in the HBO film "By Dawn's Early Light," and "The Sum of All Fears," based on the book by Tom Clancy.
[edit] Specifications (E-4B)
General characteristics
- Crew: 60-114
- Length: 231 ft 4 in (70.5 m)
- Wingspan: 195 ft 8 in (59.7 m)
- Height: 63 ft 5 in (19.3 m)
- Wing area: 5,500 ft² (510 m²)
- Empty weight: 410,000 lb (190,000 kg)
- Loaded weight: 820,000 lb (370,000 kg)
- Powerplant: 4× General Electric CF6-50E2 turbofans, 52,500 lbf (234 kN) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 523 knots (602 mph, 969 km/h)
- Range: 6,200 nm (7,100 mi, 11,000 km)
- Service ceiling: 45,000 ft (14,000 m)
- Wing loading: 150 lb/ft² (730 kg/m²)
- Thrust/weight: 0.26
[edit] External links
[edit] Related content
Related development
Comparable aircraft
Designation sequence
Related lists
- List of command and control aircraft
- List of military aircraft of the United States
- List of active United States military aircraft
