Sierra Nevada’s first test flight of the Survivable Airborne Operations Center marks a major step in replacing the aging E-4B “Nightwatch” fleet introduced in the 1970s.

The E-4C Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC), the U.S. Air Force’s replacement for the aging E-4B “Nightwatch” fleet, has entered flight testing. Prime contractor Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) announced on Sep. 3, 2025, that the first test flight took place on Aug. 7, beginning a multi-year c

The SAOC program is one of the most critical elements of the Air Force’s Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications (NC3) modernization effort, designed to provide survivable airborne command and control for national leadership in the event of a crisis or nuclear exchange. Similarly to the E-4B, the new SAOC will be a

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