The United States is testing its ability to direct and control nuclear forces during a crisis as part of a major military exercise.
US Strategic Command confirmed Tuesday that its annual Global Thunder 27 drill is underway, warning that people across the country may see increased flights by bombers and support aircraft.
The exercise simulates complex situations involving military decision-making, communications and the ability to respond to an attack.
The drills are designed to ensure that America’s nuclear forces remain ready, safe and secure, while preserving their ability to operate effectively and deter aggression.
Flight-tracking data showed B-52 bombers departing Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, along with several E-6B Mercury aircraft operating over the United States in recent hours.
The E-6Bs, often called “doomsday planes,” function as airborne command and communications centers, helping keep national leaders connected with the country’s nuclear forces.
Aviation notices also identified temporary airspace reservations over parts of the Atlantic, Pacific and Florida that may be connected to Global Thunder. One notice specifically named the nuclear exercise.
Officials emphasized that Global Thunder is a routine annual exercise and was not launched in response to any particular country or current international event.
The US military has launched a nuclear readiness drill aimed at keeping America’s nuclear forces prepared, secure and capable of deterring an attack (stock)
Aviation notices identified temporary airspace reservations over parts of the Atlantic, Pacific and Florida that may be associated with Global Thunder, with one explicitly naming the nuclear exercise
Global Thunder 27 began on October 22 and is expected to continue for about 10 days.
While the exercise has been in progress for several days, reports of military aircraft operating over the country only emerged within the past day.
At least five E-6B aircraft were spotted Tuesday afternoon. Another was reported Wednesday morning after departing Oklahoma and heading northwest.
Flight-tracking information also showed B-52 bombers flying north from the Minot area in North Dakota toward Canada, while other aircraft traced looping routes over Louisiana and Mississippi.
A B-1B Lancer bomber was also tracked over western Texas.
The United States’ nuclear arsenal is organized around three components, collectively known as the nuclear triad: land-based missiles, ballistic missile submarines and long-range bombers.
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The land-based arm includes Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles stored in reinforced underground silos.
At sea, submarines carry nuclear-armed Trident II missiles, while B-52 and B-2 bombers make up the airborne element of the triad.
At least five E-6B “doomsday planes” were seen Tuesday afternoon, with another reported the following morning (stock)
Together, these forces give national leaders multiple options in the event of an attack and help preserve the ability to retaliate if one part of the nuclear arsenal is targeted.
Built from Boeing’s commercial 707 aircraft, the E-6B is fitted with specialized systems that maintain communications between national leaders and US nuclear forces.
Its equipment includes long trailing-wire antennas used for very-low-frequency communications with ballistic missile submarines.
The aircraft is also equipped with an airborne launch control system capable of facilitating the launch of the nation’s land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles.
Flight-tracking data showed B-52 bombers flying north from the Minot area in North Dakota into Canada, while other aircraft followed looping routes over Louisiana and Mississippi
The E-6B, derived from Boeing’s commercial 707 aircraft, carries specialized communications equipment for maintaining contact between national leaders and nuclear forces
The B-1B Lancer, by contrast, is used exclusively to carry conventional weapons. The Air Force ended the bomber’s nuclear mission in 1994 and completed its conversion to conventional-only operations in 2011.
Although the flight maps show where aircraft traveled, they do not reveal what weapons they were carrying or prove that every aircraft shown was involved in Global Thunder.
Several aviation notices established temporary airspace reservations, designating specific portions of the sky for set periods so controllers could separate planned military activity from other flights.
The strongest connection to the nuclear exercise came from an Atlantic reservation titled “Global Thunder (Oak Bravo),” covering the area from the ocean surface to about 25,000 feet.
That reservation was scheduled to remain in effect from 10am Eastern on Tuesday, October 27, until 11pm Friday, October 30.
Additional notices reserved airspace over the Atlantic, Pacific and Florida, with one advising pilots to use “extreme caution.”
Separate notices extended operating hours at Minot Air Force Base and restricted Whiteman Air Force Base to official business. None of those measures explicitly connected the changes to Global Thunder.
