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Looking Glass (orOperation Looking Glass) is the historic code name for an airbornecommand and control center operated by the United States. Since 2016 it has been referred to as theABNCP (Airborne National Command Post).[1] It provides command and control ofU.S. nuclear forces in the event that ground-based command centers have been destroyed or otherwise rendered inoperable.
In such an event, thegeneral officer aboard the Looking Glass serves as theAirborne Emergency Action Officer (AEAO),[2] and by law assumes the authority of theNational Command Authority and could command execution of nuclear attacks. The AEAO is supported by a battle staff of approximately 20 people, with another dozen responsible for the operation of the aircraft systems. The name Looking Glass, which is another name for a mirror, was chosen for the Airborne Command Post because the mission operates in parallel with the underground command post atOffutt Air Force Base.[3]
The code name "Looking Glass" came from the aircraft's ability to "mirror" the command and control functions of the underground command post at theU.S. Air Force'sStrategic Air Command (SAC)headquarters atOffutt AFB,Nebraska.
In 1960, the SAC Airborne Command Post or "Looking Glass" was initiated, with the conversion of 5KC-135A tankers to Airborne Command Posts. In July 1960, operational testing began under the code name Looking Glass,[4] with a SACgeneral officer always aboard each flight,[5] and operated by the34th Air Refueling Squadron atOffutt AFB.[6][7]
In August 1966, the mission transferred to the38th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, to the2nd Airborne Command and Control Squadron in April 1970, to the7th Airborne Command and Control Squadron in July 1994, and to theUSSTRATCOM'sStrategic Communications Wing One in October 1998.[6][7]
In February 1961, theStrategic Air Command put Looking Glass mission on continuous airborne alert.[8] Aircraft from the 34th Air Refueling Squadron were based at its headquarters at Offutt AFB, backed up by aircraft flying with theSecond Air Force /913th Air Refueling Squadron atBarksdale AFB, Louisiana, theEighth Air Force /99th Air Refueling Squadron atWestover AFB, Massachusetts, and theFifteenth Air Force /22d Air Refueling Squadron,March AFB, California.[7]
EC-135 Looking Glass aircraft were airborne 24 hours a day for over 29 years,[9] until July 24, 1990,[10] when "The Glass" ceased continuous airborne alert, but remained on ground or airborne alert 24 hours a day.[11]
The Looking Glass mission mirrors ground-based command, control, and communications (C3 or C³) located at theUSSTRATCOM Global Operations Center (GOC) at Offutt AFB.[6] TheEC-135 Looking Glass aircraft were equipped with theAirborne Launch Control System, capable of transmitting launch commands to U.S. ground-basedintercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) in the event that the ground launch control centers were rendered inoperable.[6][12][13]
The Looking Glass was also designed to help ensurecontinuity and reconstitution of the US government in the event of anuclear attack onNorth America. Although the two types of aircraft are distinct, theDoomsday Plane nickname is also frequently associated with theBoeing E-4 "Nightwatch" Advanced Airborne Command Post mission and aircraft.
The Looking Glass was the anchor in the World Wide Airborne Command Post (WWABNCP) network. This network of specially equipped EC-135 aircraft launched from ground alert status, and established air-to-air wireless network connections in the event of a U.S. national emergency. Members of the WWABNCP network included:
The Eastern Auxiliary (EAST Aux) and Western Auxiliary (West Aux) Command Posts were also part of the WWABNCP ("wah-bin-cop") network and were capable of assuming responsibility for Looking Glass as the anchor. The West Aux906th Air Refueling Squadron was based atMinot AFB,North Dakota, and moved to the4th Airborne Command and Control Squadron atEllsworth AFB,South Dakota in April 1970.[7]
The East Aux mission301st Air Refueling Squadron was based atLockbourne AFB,Ohio. In April 1970, the role moved to the3rd Airborne Command & Control Squadron atGrissom AFB,Indiana. After 1975, East Aux was assumed from the Looking Glass backup ground alert aircraft launched from Offutt AFB.[7]
In June 1992, United States Strategic Command took over the Looking Glass mission from the Strategic Air Command, as SAC was disbanded and Strategic Command assumed thenuclear deterrence mission.[7]
In October 1998, theUnited States Navy fleet ofE-6Bs replaced the EC-135C in performing the "Looking Glass" mission, previously carried out for 37 years by theU.S. Air Force. Unlike the original Looking Glass aircraft, the E-6Bs are modified Boeing 707 aircraft, not the military-only KC-135. The E-6B provides the National Command Authority with the same capability as the EC-135 fleet to control the nation'sintercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) force,nuclear-capable bombers andsubmarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM).[6] With the assumption of this mission, aUSSTRATCOM battle staff now flies with theTACAMO crew.[14][6]
If theUSSTRATCOM Global Operations Center (GOC) is unable to function in its role, the E-6B Looking Glass can assume command of all U.S.nuclear-capable forces. Flying aboard each ABNCP is a crew of 22, which includes an air crew, a Communications Systems Officer and team, an Airborne Emergency Action Officer (an Admiral or General officer), a Mission Commander, a Strike Advisor, anAirborne Launch Control System/Intelligence Officer, a Meteorological Effects Officer, a Logistics Officer, a Force Status Controller, and an Emergency Actions NCO.[6]
In addition to being able to direct the launch of ICBMs using theAirborne Launch Control System, the E-6B can communicateEmergency Action Messages (EAM) to nuclear submarines running at depth, by extending a two and a half-mile-long (4 km) trailing wire antenna (TWA) for use with theSurvivable Low Frequency Communications System (SLFCS), as the EC-135C could.[6]
There was some speculation that the "mystery plane" seen flying over theWhite House onSeptember 11, 2001, was some newer incarnation of Looking Glass. However, the plane circling the White House on 9/11 was aE-4B (callsign ADDIS77/VENUS77) acting as the tertiary NAOC (Nightwatch) aircraft which was launched from ground alert atAndrews Air Force Base.[15]
This article incorporatespublic domain material from the United States Navy This article incorporatespublic domain material from the United States government
