The United States Air Force has affirmed Sierra Nevada Corporation’s role in fortifying America’s national security apparatus with a $13 billion contract, tasked with developing the next generation of ‘doomsday’ planes, formally known as the Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC). This substantial commitment by the Department of Defense, expected to conclude by July 10, 2036, projects a transformation in airborne strategic command and control capabilities, with the Air Force allocating $59 million in research, development, test, and evaluation funds to Sierra Nevada to commence the SAOC development immediately.
The new fleet will replace the aging E-4B Nightwatch aircraft, which have been the backbone of national command authority since the 1970s. The SAOC initiative represents an essential upgrade to ensure the integrity and effectiveness of the United States’ nuclear command, control, and communications in the face of contemporary threats. An Air Force spokesperson emphasized the critical nature of the SAOC program, stating, “The development of this critical national security weapon system ensures the department’s nuclear command, control, and communications capability is operationally relevant and secure for decades to come.”
The contract stipulates the production of a modernized, secure, and resilient airborne command center capable of weathering the effects of an electromagnetic pulse and featuring state-of-the-art electrical systems and communications equipment. The SAOC will be based on a hardened and modified commercial derivative aircraft, and will employ a modular open systems approach for seamless upgrades and integration of future technologies.
The groundbreaking contract was won following a competitive acquisition in which two offers were received, with the Pentagon noting the inclusion of cost-plus-incentive-fee, fixed price incentive, and cost-plus-fixed-fee elements in the contract’s structure. Sierra Nevada’s strategic investments, such as the establishment of a 90,000-square-foot maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility at the Dayton, Ohio airport, likely contributed to its competitive edge in securing the contract.
As the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Hanscom Air Force Base is the contracting entity, the SAOC program is set to generate a significant economic impact, with work to be conducted across multiple states, including Colorado, Nevada, and Ohio. Indeed, Sierra Nevada had forecasted this expansion potential, as Mark Williams, Sierra Nevada senior vice president of strategy, indicated that “If we win the big opportunity, that will turn into four of those type hangars (at Dayton International Airport) plus North America’s largest emissions-free paint hangar, but that’s all contingent on us winning the business.”
Relevant articles:
– Air Force picks the builder of its next Doomsday planes, Defense One, 04/29/2024
– Sierra Nevada lands big, $13B Air Force ‘doomsday plane’ contract, Dayton Daily News, Mon, 29 Apr 2024 10:58:22 GMT
– Sierra Nevada wins $13B contract to build Air Force ‘doomsday plane’, Defense News, Fri, 26 Apr 2024 22:25:17 GMT
– Sierra Nevada Awarded $13 billion to Build New ‘Doomsday’ Plane, Defense & Security Monitor, Mon, 29 Apr 2024 13:17:12 GMT
– Air Force awards SNC $13B contract for new ‘Doomsday’ plane, Breaking Defense, Fri, 26 Apr 2024 22:03:29 GMT