Boeing E-6B Mercury, known as the US’s “apocalypse aircraft ,, recently took off from Oklahoma, flying on Nebraska and Iowa and landing again in Oklahoma. According to Airnav, the flight tracking system passed over the Offutt Air Force Base. This base is known as the US nuclear command center, and that’s why the flight attracts attention.

During the Cold War, nuclear wars were seen as a possible threat. Both the United States and the Soviet Union produced “apocalypse planes ası as a precaution against this danger. These aircraft were designed as war rooms that move in the sky, where leaders can give orders during nuclear conflict. Boeing E-6B Mercury is also part of this tradition. It was developed to withstand both nuclear attacks and the effects of electromagnetic impacts. It also allows leaders to communicate with other world leaders through satellite communication systems.

Flight and task definition on March 10

The apocalypse aircraft took off on March 10, an E-6B Mercury with the capacity of launching Intercontinental Ballistic missiles. According to the US Navy Aviation Systems Command, this aircraft was designed as a strategic air command center and communication platform. E-6B offers a reliable and durable air nuclear command, control and communication (NC3) solution for the US President, Defense Minister and Strategic Command. It also supports the launch of land -based intercontinental ballistic missiles through the mission and air notification system (Alcs) of the “TAKE Charge and Move Out. This double -official aircraft has been operating since 1998.

E-6B Mercury can stay in the air for up to 72 hours and can continue its operations by taking fuel supply during this time. The design allows leaders to maintain the chain of command in a safe way. However, although the name of “apocalypse” has a scary meaning, the US tests both the preparation level of the teams and the functionality of the planes by making regular exercises with these planes. For example, when US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump caught the COVID-19 in 2020, the apocalypse planes were seen to fly on the east and west coast of the United States. US Strategic Command spokesman Karen Singer announced that these flights were planned exercises at that time and that timing was purely coincidence.

Recent mobility

Although the US has not recently shared detailed information about these aircraft, including flight on March 10, three different E-6B Mercury aircrafts have been seen this week. One of them was flying near Tulsa, another flew to Bonham, Texas and then returned to Oklahoma. These flights are seen as part of the navy’s preparation level to protect and test.