Operation Looking Glass: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 3: | Line 3: | ||
The Looking Glass was initiated by the [[United States Air Force|U.S. Air Force]]'s [[Strategic Air Command]] in 1961. |
The Looking Glass was initiated by the [[United States Air Force|U.S. Air Force]]'s [[Strategic Air Command]] in 1961. |
||
The command center is referred to as ''Looking Glass'' because its mission mirrors ground-based command, control, and communications. It has also been called (much less frequently) the "[[Doomsday]] plane," since one of its roles would be to direct [[NORAD]] forces |
The command center is referred to as ''Looking Glass'' because its mission mirrors ground-based command, control, and communications. It has also been called (much less frequently) the "[[Doomsday]] plane," since one of its roles would be to direct [[NORAD]] forces to retaliate after we have suffered a massive attack. It is also designed to help ensure [[Continuity of Operations Plan|continuity of government]] in the event of a massive [[Nuclear warfare|nuclear attack]] on [[North America]] (this latter nickname may also refer to the [[Boeing E-4|Night watch]] mission and/or aircraft, however). Looking Glass can refer to both the Looking Glass mission and the Looking Glass aircraft itself. |
||
The [[Strategic Air Command]] began the mission on February 3, 1961, using [[Boeing EC-135|EC-135]]C aircraft based at its [[headquarters]] at [[Offutt Air Force Base|Offutt AFB]], [[Nebraska]]. Looking Glass aircraft was airborne 24 hours a day for over 29 years, until July 24, 1990, when "The Glass" ceased continuous airborne alert, but remained on ground or airborne alert 24 hours a day. |
The [[Strategic Air Command]] began the mission on February 3, 1961, using [[Boeing EC-135|EC-135]]C aircraft based at its [[headquarters]] at [[Offutt Air Force Base|Offutt AFB]], [[Nebraska]]. Looking Glass aircraft was airborne 24 hours a day for over 29 years, until July 24, 1990, when "The Glass" ceased continuous airborne alert, but remained on ground or airborne alert 24 hours a day. |
||
Revision as of 18:12, 31 March 2009
Looking Glass (or Operation Looking Glass) is the code name for an airborne command center currently operated by the U.S. Navy. It provides command and control of U.S. nuclear forces in the event that ground-based command centers are destroyed or rendered inoperable. The Looking Glass was initiated by the U.S. Air Force's Strategic Air Command in 1961.
The command center is referred to as Looking Glass because its mission mirrors ground-based command, control, and communications. It has also been called (much less frequently) the "Doomsday plane," since one of its roles would be to direct NORAD forces to retaliate after we have suffered a massive attack. It is also designed to help ensure continuity of government in the event of a massive nuclear attack on North America (this latter nickname may also refer to the Night watch mission and/or aircraft, however). Looking Glass can refer to both the Looking Glass mission and the Looking Glass aircraft itself.
The Strategic Air Command began the mission on February 3, 1961, using EC-135C aircraft based at its headquarters at Offutt AFB, Nebraska. Looking Glass aircraft was airborne 24 hours a day for over 29 years, until July 24, 1990, when "The Glass" ceased continuous airborne alert, but remained on ground or airborne alert 24 hours a day.
Today, the EC-135C has been replaced with the E-6 Mercury TACAMO commanded by USSTRATCOM, which is also based at Offutt AFB.
Current status
On October 1, 1998, the U.S. Navy's fleet of E-6Bs replaced the EC-135C in performing the "Looking Glass" mission, previously carried out for 37 years by the U.S. Air Force. This new mission allows the President and the Secretary of Defense direct command and control capability for America's strategic forces of ballistic nuclear missile submarines, intercontinental nuclear missiles and strategic bombers. With the assumption of this new mission, a battle staff now flies with the TACAMO crew.[1]
There is some speculation that the "mystery plane" seen flying over the White House on 9/11 was some newer incarnation of Project Looking Glass. Maj. Gen. Don Shepherd (Ret.), speaking on the cable news channel CNN on September 12, 2007, stated that the plane circling the White House on 9/11 resembled an E-4B, and appeared to be equipped with the same communications pod typical of the "Doomsday plane." As noted above, however, this term can also refer to Nightwatch aircraft.
See also
- TACAMO
- Boeing EC-135
- Boeing E-4 Advanced Airborne Command Post ("Nightwatch")
- E-6 Mercury
- Decapitation strike
- Continuity of Operations Plan
- Single Integrated Operational Plan
- Nuclear utilization target selection
References
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: http://www.tacamo.navy.mil/wing/index.asp