Survivable Airborne Operations Center

Survivable Airborne Operations Center
Role Airborne strategic command and control post
Manufacturer Sierra Nevada Corporation[1]
Introduction 2032 (planned)
Status In development
Primary user United States Air Force
Developed from Boeing 747-8I

The Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC) is a United States Air Force program to develop a replacement for the E-4 National Airborne Operations Center (NAOC), a strategic command-and-control military aircraft used as a mobile command post for the National Command Authority in emergency situations.

The current E-4 platforms were built in the 1970s. The airframes are reaching the end of their operational lifespans and support costs are increasing. Because of this, in 2019, the USAF began a program to develop a new platform. This program will take several years to complete. The E-4s will continue to fulfill the role in the meantime.

Sierra Nevada Corporation was selected to develop the aircraft.[2] The company announced that the aircraft will be based on 747-8i and will be collaborating with Rolls Royce.[3][4][5]

  1. ^ https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-26/-doomsday-plane-contract-for-13-billion-goes-to-sierra-nevada
  2. ^ https://theaviationist.com/2024/04/27/sierra-nevada-saoc-announcement/
  3. ^ "In The News: How Sierra Nevada Corp. Is Starting To Build The Next Doomsday Fleet". Sierra Nevada Corporation. 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  4. ^ "Rolls-Royce partners with SNC on U.S. Air Force Survivable Airborne Operations Center". www.rolls-royce.com. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  5. ^ "Rolls Royce wins new contract for nuclear proof 'doomsday' plane". euronews. 23 May 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.