Yes, E6-Bs (Doomsday) Aircraft were on alert yesterday, but mission was replanned
Statement by Jonathan Hoffman, Chief Pentagon Spokesman on the Health of the President, First Lady and Military ReadinessE-6B Mercury
“The Secretary, Mrs. Esper, Chairman Milley, and Mrs. Milley send their thoughts and prayers to the President and First Lady for a swift recovery.
Secretary Esper and Chairman Milley last met with the President on Sunday at the White House Gold Star Families event. In preparation for and as part of his international travel, Secretary Esper tested negative for COVID on Monday and Wednesday of this week. Today he will be tested again as planned for continuation of his travel. He will not be returning to the US early. The Chairman was tested this morning and was negative.
There’s been no change to DoD alert levels. The US military stands ready to defend our country and interests. There’s no change to the readiness or capability of our armed forces. Our national command and control structure is in no way affected by this announcement.
With regard to reports about E-6B aircraft on alert status, US STRATCOM has confirmed these E-6B aircraft were part of pre-planned missions. Any timing to the president’s announcement was purely coincidental.
The Secretary has expressed his appreciation for the White House’s military medical team and is confident that they will ensure that the President and First Lady – like all members of our military family – will continue to receive the best medical care in the world.”
Communications relay and strategic airborne command post aircraft. Provides survivable, reliable, and endurable airborne command, control, and communications between the National Command Authority (NCA) and U.S. strategic and non-strategic forces. Two squadrons, the “Ironmen” of VQ-3 and the “Shadows” of VQ-4 deploy more than 20 aircrews from Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. to meet these requirements.
Boeing derived the E-6A from its commercial 707 to replace the aging EC-130Q in the performance of the Navy’s TACAMO (“Take Charge and Move Out”) mission. TACAMO links the NCA with naval ballistic missile forces during times of crisis. The aircraft carries a very low frequency communication system with dual trailing wire antennas. The Navy accepted the first E-6A in August 1989.
The E-6B was conceived as a replacement for the Air Force’s Airborne Command Post due to the age of the EC-135 fleet. The E-6B modified an E-6A by adding battlestaff positions and other specialized equipment. The E-6B is a dual-mission aircraft capable of fulfilling either the TACAMO mission or the airborne strategic command post mission and is equipped with an airborne launch control system (ALCS). The ALCS is capable of launching U.S. land based intercontinental ballistic missiles. The first E-6B aircraft was accepted in December 1997 and the E-6B assumed its dual operational mission in October 1998. The E-6 fleet was completely modified to the E-6B configuration in 2003.
Characteristics
Primary Function: Communications relay for fleet ballistic missile submarines (A and B models) and airborne command post for U.S. Strategic forces (B model)
Contractor: The Boeing Company
Date Deployed: October 1998
Unit Cost: 141.7 million
Propulsion: Four CFM-56-2A-2 High bypass turbofans
Length: 150 feet, 4 inches (45.8 meters)
Height: 42 feet 5 inches (12.9 meters)
Wingspan: 148 feet, 4 inches (45.2 meters)
Weight: Max gross, take-off. 342,000 lbs (154,400 kg)
Airspeed: 522 knots, 600 miles (960 km) per hour
Ceiling: Above 40,000 feet
Range: 6,600 nautical miles (7,590 statute miles, 12,144 km) with 6 hours loiter time
Crew: 22