Boeing EC-135

Inside Boeing EC-135 Airborne Launch Control Center (ALCC)

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Current status


On October 1, 1998, the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] fleet of E-6Bs replaced the EC-135C in performing the "Looking Glass" mission, previously carried out for 37 years by the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]; unlike the Looking Glass aircraft, the E-6Bs are modified Boeing 707 aircraft.

This new mission allows the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] and the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] direct command and control capability for America's strategic forces of ballistic nuclear missile [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] and strategic [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

With the assumption of this new mission, a battle staff now flies with the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] crew.

If the USSTRATCOM GOC is unable to function in its role, the E-6B TACAMO can assume command of all U.S. nuclear forces.

Flying aboard each ABNCP is a crew of 22, which includes an aircrew, an Information Systems Officer and team, an Airborne Emergency Action Officer (an Admiral or General officer), an Intelligence Officer, Meteorologist, and an Airborne Battle Operations Team.

In addition to being able to launch ICBMs, the E-6B can communicate [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] (EAM) to nuclear submarines running at depth by extending a 2½-mile-long trailing wire antenna (TWA) for use with the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] (SLFCS).

E-6B

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Boeing EC-135C (62-3585) 7th ACCS, 55th Wg. Offutt Air Force Base

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There was some speculation that the "mystery plane" seen flying over the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] on [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] was some newer incarnation of Looking Glass.

However, as indicated by MGen Don Shepherd (Ret.), speaking on [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] on September 12, 2007, the plane circling the White House on 9/11 resembled an [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] which was likely launched from Nightwatch ground alert at [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

Due to its vast array of communications equipment, including secure voice and high bandwidth satellite, the Looking Glass has been used to support non-nuclear (conventional and covert) battle management missions, notably those associated with [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], and [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

In the early 1980s, Looking Glass was used in Operation Cobbler's Knee which provided temporary command post support to U.S. operatives in Honduras for what was later revealed as the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

Supporting these and other conventional or covert battle management Operations is treated with great secrecy due to the extreme sensitivity of associating the Looking Glass with the potential for a nuclear option.

Also, for similar sensitivities, neither the President nor the Vice President will ride aboard, nor typically visit while on the
ground, the Looking Glass, lest the intelligence services of potential enemies perceive that activity as a preparatory step to a surprise U.S. nuclear launch.

EC-135, suite

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The [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] nuclear strategy depends on its ability to command, control, and communicate with its [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] under all conditions.

An essential element of that ability is Looking Glass; its crew and staff ensure there is always an [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] ready to direct bombers and missiles from the air should ground-based command centers be destroyed or rendered inoperable.

Looking Glass is intended to guarantee that U.S. strategic forces will act only in the manner dictated by the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

It took the nickname "Looking Glass" because the mission mirrored ground-based command, control, and communications.

Besides being the program name, "Looking Glass" is the official name for the "C" model aircraft of the EC-135.

It has a crew of at least 15, including at least one or more [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

The [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] (SAC) began the Looking Glass mission on February 3, 1961 and Looking Glass aircraft were continuously airborne 24 hours a day for over 29 years, accumulating more than 281,000 accident-free flying hours.

On July 24, 1990, "The Glass" ceased continuous airborne alert, but remained on ground or airborne alert 24 hours a day.

The EC-135A flew the Command Post mission until EC-135C were delivered starting in 1963.

The aircraft were delivered to to Offutt AFB and as well as one aircraft to each of the Stateside Numbered Air Force Headquarters - Second Air Force at Barksdale AFB, LA; Eighth Air Force at Westover AFB, MA; and Fifteenth Air Force at March AFB CA. EC-135's flew all the missions except one, when an E-4B was tested on a operational mission, flying a
double sortie as the replacement aircraft could not launch due to weather.

About a week after the flight, Washington deleted the funds for additional E-4 aircraft.

On June 1, 1992, [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] was deactivated and replaced by [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], which now controls the Looking Glass.^{[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]
[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien][Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]}
On October 1, 1998, the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] replaced the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] EC-135C in the Looking Glass mission.

Boeing EC-135A

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Silk Purse


Operation Silk Purse program provided four EC-135H command post aircraft to the Commander, [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] (USEUCOM), which were based at [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] in the United Kingdom. All four aircraft were subsequently retired.

Scope Light


Operation Scope Light provided five EC-135J/P command post aircraft to the Commander in Chief, [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] (CINCLANT), which were based at [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], VA. All five aircraft were subsequently retired.

Blue Eagle


Operation Blue Eagle provided five EC-135J/P command post aircraft to the Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Command (USCINCPAC), which were based at [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], HI. All five aircraft were subsequently retired.

EC-135J

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Nightwatch


Operation Nightwatch provided three EC-135J command post aircraft to the President of the United States which were based at [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], MD.

All three aircraft were transferred to other ABNCP missions.

Nightwatch was initiated in the mid-1960s utilizing the three EC-135J aircraft, modified from KC-135Bs, as command post aircraft.

The three Nightwatch aircraft were ready to fly the President and the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] (NCA) out of Washington in the event of a nuclear attack.

The [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] aircraft (a modified Boeing 747-200) came on line with the Nightwatch program in 1974 replacing the EC-135s on this mission.