Boeing Excluded from Air Force's 'Doomsday Plane' Project, Sierra Nevada in Spotlight

Boeing has been eliminated from the U.S. Air Force's competition to develop the successor to the E-4B Nightwatch, also known as the "Doomsday plane." The aircraft serves as a flying emergency command and control post in the event of a nuclear war or other emergencies. Boeing, the manufacturer of the current Doomsday plane, was unable to reach an agreement with the Air Force on data rights and contract terms. This leaves privately held defense contractor Sierra Nevada Corp as the only known company still in the running. The Air Force plans to award the contract in 2024.