Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Raytheon want to build the E-XX doomsday aircraft in case of nuclear war

US defence companies Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, Northrop Grumman and Raytheon Intelligence & Space are joining forces to bid for a new "doomsday" aircraft for the US Navy. It will replace the E-6B Mercury and will be used in the event of nuclear war.

Here's What We Know

The US has 16 E-6B Mercury aircraft in service. One recently landed in Iceland. The Mercury allows the US president and defence secretary to communicate with Ohio-class nuclear submarines. The country's leader can command the launch of Trident II (D5) ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads from the plane.

Northrop Grumman vice president Jane Bishop said the team working on the new E-XX "doomsday aircraft" has the knowledge and experience to integrate weapons systems and battlefield management. Long Wave Inc. and Crescent Systems Inc. will join the work on the aircraft.

The doomsday aircraft will be based on Lockheed Martin's C-130J-30 Super Hercules. It has an extra 4.5 metres of fuselage compared to the conventional C-130. The U.S. Navy's FY2024 budget request (FY) calls for $213.7 million, enough to fund three test aircraft.

Northrop Grumman expects the US Navy to release its requirements in the coming months. What is known so far is that the service wants a very low frequency radio system developed by Collins Aerospace in the E-XX. The US Navy is expected to order nine "doomsday" aircraft and the contract will be signed in the first quarter of FY2025.

Source: Defence News