The “doomsday” plane of the US Air Force has landed in Iceland. The name of the large aircraft is not accidental: “Mercury E-6B” is actually deployed in case of serious conflicts, when it is necessary to provide information transmission for launching nuclear warheads. According to a press release, the plane recently arrived in Iceland as part of “an operation against the command responsibility area of the US armed forces in Europe”. tweets US European Command. The post reads, “The crew met with Carrin Patman, the US Ambassador to Iceland, and other diplomatic and military leaders.”
The Mercury E-6 is a modified Boeing 707-320. An updated version of the E-6A landing in Iceland with a new cockpit that increases “pilot awareness”. The aircraft can reach speeds of 960 km/h and has a range of over 15 hours without refueling and 72 hours, three days with in-flight refueling.
Boeing operates as a command center and communications center relaying information from the National Command Authority, which plays a key role in transmitting information to ballistic missile submarines. Its special potential and use in the event of nuclear danger allowed it to be called the “doomsday plane”.
His arrival in Europe in the past few hours marks a preemptive move by the United States should the war with Russia degenerate. Fears about a nuclear escalation of the conflict have grown since Vladimir Putin announced on February 24 the suspension of the “Start” agreement on the reduction of strategic nuclear weapons with intercontinental range, first signed in 1991.
WITH @USDapproved E-6B Mercury assigned @US_STRATCOM The First Wing has arrived #Iceland while conducting operations in USEUCOM’s area of responsibility recently. The team met with US Ambassador to Iceland Carrin Patman and other diplomats and military leaders. #WeAreNATO @usembreykjavik pic.twitter.com/CLYdl86kP4
— US European Command (@US_EUCOM) February 28, 2023
Source: Today IT
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
