NEACP/NAOC & Looking Glass!

This post is design to clarify the role of the E-4 for ATS members. The E-4 Airborne Command Post, is a survivable emergency command post for the National Command Authorities (President, Secratery of Defense, National Security Advisor, and Joint Chiefs of Staff)! It is design to work with the E-6, which forfills the Looking Glass mission for US Satrategic Command. The E-4 would form the core of the US responce in times of crises. The aircraft is equiped to transmit the PAL codes, and the Go codes to US Strategic Forces.

The fallowing Hypothetical Senarieo shows how the two planes would work together ( I barrowed it from a video on the History of SAC and US startegic forces):

1. The JCS send out a coded message notifing US Strategic command of an Increased alert!

2. An E-4 from Offut AFB, Nebraska, is foward deployed to Andrews AFB near DC, to stand on "Hot Ground" alert.

3. Nuclear forces are moved to dispresal bases.

4. An E-6 Looking Glass is deployed on airborne alert.

5. Tention increases rapidly and the JCS order an airborne alert. A portiong of US bombers are launced and deployed to foward attack positions.

6. Ground base mobil command systems are activated.

7. NORAD warns of a launch of enemy Missiles.

8. The NCA is gathered at Andrews AFB, and sent Airbrone in an E-4 to assume command of US forces.

9. CinC STRATCOM orders a scramble of Strategic Forces, and then goes airborne in Looking Glass.

10. The incoming attack is confirmed by NORAD.

11. The President orders a retalitory strike, and "The Football" is opened aboard the E-4.

12. Communicatios staff aboard the E-4 transmitt the "GO" codes and the "PAL" codes to US forces.

I know it's a long post. Hopefully, it makes the role of the E-4 more clear to ATS users. the bottom line is this: The E-4 is not a VIP aircraft like AF1, is was design strictly as an emergency command post. It includes anti-missle defenses, Thermal and Nuclear Flash protection, a radiation sheild, and Advanced EMP protection. It lacks all the comforts and extra trimmings of the VC-25A (AF1).

Tim
ATS Director of Counter-Ignorance

I just wanted to clarify a couple of things.

The E-4B(National Airborne Operations Center - NAOC) is on constant alert at a forward operation base somewhere in the US within a designated response time of the Pres/NCA. When The President travels overseas, a secondary NAOC travels which him and remains within a certain response time to his location.

NAOC is the NCA alternate command center and does have the capability to order any nuclear launch using the full range of communications equipment. From subs to silos to mobile to airborne nuclear forces. There are 48 antenna ranging from LF/VLF to SHF/EHF.

NAOC would receive the missile launch within seconds of NORAD detecting them via a nuclear survivable satellite transmission. Yes the E-4B is EMP hardened but does not have anti-missile defenses. Looking Glass has the capability to launch nukes from silos and relay launch authorization from NCA. The Navy's TACAMO has similar mission.

AF1 is a flying White House with full surgical facilities, the E-4B is more like a flying office with galley and 8 bunks for the crew to try and sleep, most just sleep in the chairs that recline.

Originally posted by Stan63
I just wanted to clarify a couple of things.


NAOC would receive the missile launch within seconds of NORAD detecting them via a nuclear survivable satellite transmission. Yes the E-4B is EMP hardened but does not have anti-missile defenses. Looking Glass has the capability to launch nukes from silos and relay launch authorization from NCA. The Navy's TACAMO has similar mission.

One thing: The TACAMO mission has now been combined with the Looking Glass mission. Both roles are now flown by the E-6B Mercury aircraft under the Code Name: Looking Glass. Here's the US Strategic Command's webpage on the expanded Looking Glass mission:

LOOKING GLASS

Tim
ATS Director of Counter-Ignorance