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By Mike Mitchell |
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February 18, 2010
- The Boeing Company delivered an E-4B
“The E-4B is the
most advanced communications aircraft in the world and on alert 24/7,”
said Steve Wade, general manager of Boeing Global Transport and
Executive Systems (GTES). “When they’re called upon, it’s our job to
ensure they are ready.”
The Boeing E-4
Advanced Airborne Command Post, with a project name of "Nightwatch" is
an aircraft operated by the United States Air Force (USAF). To create
the E-4 series four Boeing 747-200 airframes were specially modified to
serve as a survivable mobile command post for the National Command
Authority, including the President of the |
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The upgrade completed last week included an extensive programmed depot
maintenance refurbishment, ensuring the aircraft received the repairs
and system upgrades it needs to operate effectively and meet Federal
Aviation Administration safety requirements.
The E-4B is designed to survive an EMP with systems intact, and has
state of the art direct fire countermeasures. The E-4B is capable of
operating with a crew of 48 to 112 people, the largest crew of any
aircraft in US Air Force history. With in-flight refueling it is capable
of remaining airborne for a considerable period (limited only by
consumption of the engines' lubricants). In a test flight for endurance,
the aircraft remained airborne and fully operational for 33 hours. It
takes two fully loaded KC-135 tankers to fully refuel an E-4B. The E-4B
has three operational decks; upper, middle and lower.
The next E-4B scheduled to enter maintenance will receive a full Mod
Block upgrade that includes the addition of a Senior Leadership
Communications System and improvements to the aircraft’s Global Air
Traffic Management System, audio infrastructure, and interior. |
GTES,
headquartered in
A unit of The
Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space and Security is one of the world’s
largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in
innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world’s
largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft.
Headquartered in |
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