See inside the E-4B ‘Nightwatch,’ nicknamed the ‘doomsday plane’ for its ability to help US presidents survive nuclear war

• The E-4B “Nightwatch” is nicknamed the “doomsday plane” because it can survive a nuclear attack.
• In the event of nuclear war, it would serve as the US military’s command and control center.
• It is the US Air Force’s most expensive plane to operate, at $159,529 per hour.

Air Force One, the US president’s aircraft, is known as the “flying Oval Office” for its ability to function as a state-of-the-art workspace for the commander in chief.

There’s another lesser-known presidential plane that can operate as a “flying war room”: the E-4B “Nightwatch.”

Nicknamed the “doomsday plane” for its ability to survive a nuclear blast, the E-4B is designed to protect the president and other senior officials and function as a military command center in worst-case scenarios. It also transports the Secretary of Defense on international trips.

Many of the E-4B’s features are classified, but the US Air Force has shared some glimpses into its capabilities. Take a look inside the top-secret aircraft.