Doomsday plane - what is it and why is it needed

This plane is called the doomsday plane, ordoomsday plane. Of course, it has nothing to do with the biblical apocalypse. In it, the top leadership of the country will be saved and manage the armed forces in the event of a nuclear war. The United States and Russia have such aircraft. These are real air fortresses that are not afraid of radiation, while being able to stay in the air for a long time in order to deliver the leadership to a safe place. Doomsday planes are always ready to take to the skies - 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, they take just a few minutes to take off. The Russian doomsday aircraft is based on the IL-86. The last time it took off in the spring of this year, but, fortunately, not because of the threat of a nuclear strike, but for training purposes. However, the very fact of its take-off seriously alarmed the public, and someone even suggested that a nuclear war in 2022 awaits us. But, be that as it may, we propose further to understand in more detail what these aircraft are and what capabilities they have.

IL-80 - Russian doomsday aircraft

Content

• 1 IL-80 - development history
• 2 Doomsday aircraft IL-80
• 3 Nuclear war in Russia - who will fly the IL-80
• 4 New Russian doomsday aircraft
• 5 American Doomsday Plane

IL-80 - development history

In recent months, political scientists and all sorts ofexperts are increasingly discussing whether there will be a nuclear war in 2022, whether Russia will launch a nuclear strike, etc., and this, of course, is shocking. But during the Cold War, the threat of nuclear war was almost always present. It seemed especially real during periods of escalation.

During one of the last such turnstension (the end of the 70s and the beginning of the 80s), the General Staff of the USSR Armed Forces decided to build an air command post in which the top military leadership would be able to control all troops, including nuclear weapons. Earlier, we already said that for launching missiles there is a special device called a nuclear suitcase, which allows you to give orders from anywhere in the world.

Doomsday plane will take off with the country's top leadership on board in case of a nuclear strike on Russia

The development of the doomsday aircraft was engaged inIlyushin experimental design bureau. Already on May 29, 1985, the aircraft made its first flight. The test showed that the car turned out to be very successful. Two years later, the aircraft was equipped with all the necessary equipment, and made the second flight in full configuration.

Modernization work began in 1997air command post IL-80, as a result of which new electronic equipment was installed. By 2019, four such aircraft had been built, two of them with aerial refueling capability. Periodically, new modern equipment is installed on aircraft.

Doomsday aircraft IL-80

Russian aircraft IL-80, like the Americananalogue, equipped with equipment protected from the damaging factors of a nuclear explosion, which ensures safety if the board does not have time to leave the danger zone. In addition, it is equipped with equipment that provides the possibility of autonomous flight, that is, without satellite equipment, relay systems, navigation and other equipment that is outside the aircraft. After all, all this, most likely, as a result of a nuclear war, will not work.

Under the wings of the IL-80, you can see the power systems that provide electricity to all aircraft equipment.

Another important feature of the aircraft is the durationand flight range. Its task is to ensure that the leadership of the country could be in the air for the most dangerous period of time and at the same time leave the affected area. Therefore, the plane can fly for a week, and possibly more. But, of course, this is subject to air refueling. Therefore, the aircraft is equipped with everything necessary to fill fuel during the flight from tanker aircraft.

I must say that visually the doomsday planenot so much different from the serial IL-86, but if you look closely, some details immediately catch your eye. For obvious reasons, it does not have portholes. In the forward part of the fuselage, you can see a large overhead compartment, which contains all kinds of electronic equipment. The body and wings are reinforced, which provides higher resistance to shock waves.

Since the aircraft is very heavy, it has fourchassis supports. Under the wings you can see additional pylons with electrical equipment. At the same time, there are no weapons on board the aircraft. It is assumed that fighter aircraft will provide protection.

It looks like the cabin of the IL-80 from the inside

Nuclear war in Russia - who will fly the IL-80

Who will take on board the plane, or rather, planesdoomsday? Of course, the president, the secretary of defense, other members of the top military leadership, and possibly their families. Therefore, the aircraft has not only exceptional reliability, but also a high level of comfort.

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Surely many have a question, how highermanagement, for example, the president, will quickly get on board the plane, because there is no landing strip for him in the Kremlin? According to candidate of technical sciences Vadim Lukashevich, if there is a threat of a nuclear strike, the president descends underground and gets into the subway. Of course, this is not the metro that Muscovites use every day. A special line has been developed for the country's leadership. At the terminal station, a plane ready to take off will be waiting.

The new doomsday aircraft will be based on the Il-96-400M

New Russian doomsday aircraft

Last summer, it became known thatVoronezh, work began on the creation of a new command and control aircraft. It will be built on the basis of the Il-96-400M. However, the aircraft itself is still at the development stage, so it is too early to talk about the timing.

Presumably, two suchaircraft, but it is possible that an additional order for these machines will subsequently be received. One of the main features of the new aircraft is their range. Compared to its predecessor, it will be doubled.

American Doomsday Plane E-4B Nightwatch

American Doomsday Plane

E-4B Nightwatch, or NEACP (National EmergencyAirborne Command Post), designed for the same purposes, therefore, in terms of its capabilities, it is not much different from the Russian IL-80. It is known that the area of ​​all its premises is 429.2 square meters. He is also able to stay in the air for a week, subject to refueling. To refuel it, you will need two KC-135 tanker aircraft.

It must be said that this aircraft was designedmuch earlier than IL-80. he made his first flight on June 13, 1973, and a year later he was put into service. Since then, the aircraft has been constantly upgraded and equipped with modern equipment.

What does an American doomsday plane look like?you can see in this video. And finally, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the list of cities that are likely to be designated as targets in the event of a nuclear war between Russia and the United States.