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The Boeing E-6B Mercury, known as the “doomsday plane,” was seen circling Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, Nebraska, on Monday (11). The aircraft, operated by the U.S. Navy, took off from Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma and flew three times over the region before returning. The mission of the flight was not revealed, but its route generated speculation due to the model’s strategic role in nuclear operations.
Tracking data shows the U.S. Navy’s “doomsday plane” took off around 9 a.m. ET, flew to Nebraska and spent about seven hours in operation before returning to Oklahoma. During the flight, the plane circled Offutt AFB, one of the U.S. nuclear command centers, three times.
This base houses the US Strategic Command, responsible for control of nuclear weapons, as well as being the location where at least one Boeing E-4B aircraft, another “doomsday plane”, is on permanent alert for military emergencies.
What is the Boeing E-6B Mercury?
The U.S. Navy's E-6B Mercury is a key part of U.S. military strategy. Created as an airborne command center, it is designed to ensure communication between government leaders and the nation's nuclear forces in the event of a global conflict.
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The aircraft is equipped with a very low frequency communications system, allowing the President of the United States and the Secretary of Defense to send orders to ballistic missile submarines, bombers and missile silos.
Unlike commercial aircraft, the E-6B Mercury was built to withstand electromagnetic pulses that could be generated by nuclear explosions. Its technology is based on analog systems, which would not be damaged by such pulses.
Mission and functions of the U.S. Navy E-6B Mercury
The main purpose of the E-6B Mercury is to keep military communication intact in any scenario. It is part of Operation Looking Glass, ensuring that US nuclear forces can be controlled even if ground command centers are destroyed.
The aircraft can operate for up to a week without needing to land, thanks to its aerial refueling system. This allows the US command to remain active even in extreme scenarios.
In the event of a nuclear conflict, the E-6B Mercury has the ability to transmit strike orders to submarines and land bases, making it an essential element in the United States' deterrence strategy.
Other mysterious flights in the fleet
Flight tracking also detected three other E-6B Mercury aircraft operating simultaneously in different parts of the US. One made a short flight near Tulsa, another flew toward Dallas, and the third took off from Maryland.
It’s not uncommon for these planes to carry out secret missions. In October 2020, two U.S. Navy E-6B Mercurys were spotted in the skies over the U.S. on the same day that then-President Donald Trump tested positive for Covid-19. At the time, theories swirled that the move was a warning to enemies that the U.S. remained on high alert, even as the president’s health deteriorated.
However, US Strategic Command denied any link between the flights and Trump's illness, saying the exercises were planned in advance.
The Role of the E-6B in US Military Strategy
The E-6B Mercury fleet is part of a strategic defense network that also includes Boeing E-4B aircraft, used as a presidential command center in the event of a global crisis.
These aircraft are on constant alert to ensure that top government officials can operate from anywhere in the world in the event of a nuclear attack or major disaster.
The E-6B Mercury is a critical part of this system, ensuring that the United States maintains its military capability even in the worst circumstances. Its recent flight over Nebraska reinforces the importance of this fleet to national security.
The US Navy did not release details about the mission, but the fact that multiple Mercury aircraft were in the air simultaneously raises questions about what may have motivated this strategic move.
