Javier Márquez
WriterI've been in media for over a decade, but I've been marveling at the possibilities that technology brings us much longer. I believe we live in a world where the digital revolution is changing everything and that Xataka is the best place to write about it.
The E-4B Nightwatch, commonly referred to as the “Doomsday plane,” is a crucial component of the National Military Command System. It’s a modified Boeing 747-200, similar to the presidential aircraft. The E-4B is equipped with conference rooms and advanced communication systems. These are essential for executing emergency orders and coordinating armed forces if ground command and control centers become inoperative.
Additionally, the Secretary of Defense frequently uses the E-4 B during international trips. As such, connectivity and command capability are ensured in alignment with the organization of the armed forces. But what happens if no E-4B is available? An alternative plan is in place.
If the E-4B Can’t Fly, the C-17 Is Ready to Take Over
E-4Bs may not be operational for several reasons, including routine maintenance, technical failures, and even crisis deployments. Even if any of the four aircraft in the fleet are airworthy, authorities may choose not to use them for strategic reasons. In these cases, VVIPs can be transported on C-17 Globemaster IIIs.
Top: The E-4B Nightwatch. Bottom: The C-17 Globemaster III.
Aerospace company McDonnell Douglas originally designed the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III. It’s a rugged four-engine aircraft, but its interior isn’t ideal for VVIP transport. The cargo hold lacks connectivity and workstations. To address this issue, a system called the Silver Bullet is utilized, which makes the C-17 suitable for transporting high-ranking officials.
Military personnel are installing a Silver Bullet in a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft.
When the Silver Bullet option is activated, personnel from Air Mobility Command and the 89th Aerial Port Squadron install the Silver Bullet inside the C-17. This process involves moving the pod using a trailer and securing it in the aircraft’s cargo hold. Military personnel then connect a complex system of umbilical cables to ensure secure communication.
Left: Jens Stoltenberg is seen in a Silver Bullet. Right: Pete Hegseth is pictured inside another Silver Bullet.
Over the years, official images have offered glimpses into this ultra-secure aircraft. In 2017, then-NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg shared a photo of a meeting taking place inside the Silver Bullet. More recently, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appeared in a video posted on X from within one of these pods.
The space in the Silver Bullet is cramped but functional, featuring wood paneling, brown leather seats, secure phones and computers, a bathroom, and even a microwave. However, the Silver Bullet’s days are numbered. The Air Force plans to replace these pods, which were designed decades ago. Instead, it’ll use more advanced versions that will offer better connectivity, additional power outlets, sleeping quarters, and conference rooms that can accommodate up to nine people.
Image | U.S. Air Force Photo/Tech. Sgt. Robert Cloys [1, 2] | Public domain | Jens Stoltenberg| Wikimedia Commons
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