US Air Force Awards $13 billion Doomsday aircraft contract
Sierra Nevada has been up against Boeing in the SAOC, with the latter having been eliminated from the competition in December. (Photo: USAF/US DoD)
The deal included engineering and manufacturing development aircraft, ground systems, production aircraft and interim contractor support until 2036.
Sierra Nevada Corporation has won a US$13 billion US Air Force (USAF) contract for the Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC) aircraft, the successor of the E-4B “Doomsday” aircraft.
This deal will provide the development and production of the SAOC Weapon System to include the delivery of engineering and manufacturing development aircraft, associated ground systems, production aircraft and interim contractor support, the US DoD said. Work on the contract was slated to last until 2036.
Sierra Nevada was up against Boeing in the SAOC, with the latter having been eliminated from the competition in December.
As per USAF budget documents, the SAOC will be a commercially-sourced aircraft reinforced to withstand nuclear and electromagnetic impacts and equipped with aerial refuelling capability for prolonged airborne operations. Additionally, it will require secure command, control and communications systems, along with contemporary IT infrastructure.
The USAF initiated work on SAOC in 2019, but progress has been sluggish, with multiple delays. Progress would now, however, be expected to accelerate significantly. Funding for the programme has increased substantially, with the US Congress allocating $744 million for 2024, and the USAF seeking $1.7 billion in 2025, compared to just $94 million in fiscal year 2023.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![Boeing prepared to go fast on CxR uncrewed tiltrotor concept]()
Boeing prepared to go fast on CxR uncrewed tiltrotor concept
The Collaborative Transformational Rotorcraft is designed with the potential to meet a range of mission requirements, from reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition to contested logistics.
-
![Anduril’s YFQ-44A successfully completes first flight test]()
Anduril’s YFQ-44A successfully completes first flight test
The drone is the second prototype to take flight under the US Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft programme.
-
![Italy moves to procure third batch of 29 AW249 helicopters]()
Italy moves to procure third batch of 29 AW249 helicopters
The €1.22 billion (US$1.41 billion) follow-on order for the additional helicopters will complement the 19 AW249 already ordered by Italy.
-
![October Drone Digest: Growing desire for CCAs and new VTOL technology unveiled]()
October Drone Digest: Growing desire for CCAs and new VTOL technology unveiled
During October 2025, several countries and organisations signalled their intention to acquire loyal wingman uncrewed aircraft systems — designated by the US Air Force as Collaborative Combat Aircraft — or to study the capability further, while various new uncrewed helicopters were showcased.
