WASHINGTON – Boeing Co.’s Defense, Space & Security division has been awarded a $79.7 million contract from the U.S. Department of Defense for essential maintenance and engineering services on the Air Force’s E-4B fleet, often referred to as the “Doomsday Planes.”
The E-4B, a modified Boeing 747, serves as the National Airborne Operations Center (NAOC). It is designed to be a survivable mobile command post for the President, the Secretary of Defense, and other top U.S. leaders to direct forces and execute war orders in the event of a national emergency or nuclear conflict. The maintenance contract is critical to ensuring the operational readiness of these vital national security assets.
The indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract, announced on Friday, covers the eighth Programmed Depot Maintenance (PDM) for the aircraft. This involves in-depth inspection, repairs, and engineering support to keep the aging fleet mission-capable.
Work on the project will be performed at three key locations: San Antonio, Texas; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, which is the home base for the E-4B fleet. The project is scheduled to be completed by December 21, 2026.
According to the Department of Defense, the contract was awarded as a sole-source acquisition, meaning Boeing was identified as the only company with the necessary capabilities to perform the highly specialized work. The full contract value of approximately $79.7 million has been obligated using fiscal 2025 operations and maintenance funds.
The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, located at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma, is the contracting activity overseeing the project.
