On a quiet Friday morning, a US Navy aircraft known as the ‘Doomsday plane’ vanished without a trace over the Atlantic Ocean. Initial reports suggest this might have been part of a highly confidential operation.
The E-6B Mercury took flight from Maryland at roughly 8:30 AM. As it ventured southeast across Chesapeake Bay, it made its way past the expansive Norfolk naval facility before disappearing into the open waters.
The plane’s transponder signal stopped transmitting 60 miles off the Virginia coast, following standard protocol for classified missions. During its transatlantic journey, the aircraft operated under the callsign AFD FE2 and subsequently vanished from civilian tracking systems.
There’s a limited number of these E-6B Mercury aircraft—only 16 exist—designed to serve as airborne command centers for US Strategic Command, the US Secretary of War, and even the President. They are uniquely outfitted to facilitate nuclear strike commands when necessary.
These specialized aircraft are tasked with completing ‘Tacamo’ (Take Charge and Move Out) missions, ensuring robust communication links with US strategic forces, such as ballistic missile submarines, even in crisis or nuclear conflict scenarios.
As part of their operations, the Mercury planes dive into restricted airspace, employing trailing wire antennas that extend for miles. They typically circle within defined parameters for four to eight hours while securely relaying messages to submarines and land stations.
The Mercury aircraft are integral to Operation Looking Glass, effectively an Airborne Command Post that guarantees uninterrupted communication with US nuclear forces in case ground facilities are taken offline.
The ultimate goal for this squadron is clear: give the President and the Secretary of War a direct line to US submarines, bombers, and missile sites during a nuclear emergency.
WHAT’S NEXT? FIND OUT MORE:
Russia’s ‘Doomsday Radio’ springs back to life after months; grim predictions emerge
Amid escalating tensions, Putin reportedly eyes nuclear options, hinting at a serious threat
Taiwan gears up with its ‘porcupine strategy’ to counteract potential Chinese actions
The disappearance of the flight came just one day post-Thanksgiving, a time when US strategic forces typically scale back their activities before ramping them up again.
Boeing developed the Navy’s Mercury fleet in the early ’90s, equipped to withstand the harsh electromagnetic pulses generated by nuclear detonations.
Interestingly, these aircraft rely on analogue technology rather than digital, should a high-stakes conflict arise.
Boeing emphasizes that Tacamo planes play a crucial role in supporting the Navy’s missile submarines, thus providing an essential link between these forces and national command authorities.
Earlier this year, a flight tracking system noted one of these aircraft taking off from Tinker Air Force Base and circling in proximity to Omaha, which is adjacent to Offutt Air Force Base. Offutt serves as a command center aimed at coordinating nuclear control, management, and communication for national leaders and military personnel.
Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter
