Internet watchers noticed the sudden disappearance from radar of one of the most secretive aircraft in the world — Boeing E-6B Mercury, known as the "Doomsday Plane."
The aircraft disappeared over the Atlantic Ocean during a covert mission when its transponder stopped transmitting signals — a standard procedure for operations conducted in secrecy.
For the first time, Mercury was spotted this time in the sky east of Virginia Beach around 8:30 local time. The aircraft departed from Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Maryland, followed its usual route over the Chesapeake Bay and coastline, and approximately 100 kilometers from Cape Virginia turned off its open identification means.
E-6B — one of 16 aircraft designed to maintain communication between the U.S. Strategic Command, the president, and military leadership in the event of nuclear war. The aircraft is capable of transmitting orders for the launch of nuclear missiles even in the event of the destruction of ground command centers. During flights over the ocean, it typically deploys a multi-kilometer wire antenna and sends secure signals to submarines and ground objects for 4-8 hours. The route, recorded under the callsign AFD FE2, corresponded to TACAMO missions—a program created to ensure stable communication with ballistic missile carriers. This activity drew attention as it occurred the day after Thanksgiving when strategic forces traditionally reduce their operational intensity.
The E-6B fleet is part of Operation 'Mirror'—an airborne command post that is intended to function even after an electromagnetic pulse. The aircraft were built by Boeing between 1989 and 1992 and use analog systems resistant to EMI.
Other observations of Mercury took place earlier this year when aircraft circled over Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas, as well as conducted short flights from a base in Maryland. In just one day, the tracking system recorded three E-6B in different regions of the U.S. The purpose of these flights, as well as the last transatlantic mission, is currently unknown.
