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USAF drafts requirements to replace Navy E-6B for 'Looking Glass' airborne ICBM‑launch role

The U.S. Air Force is drafting operational and technical requirements for a replacement airborne command post to assume the 'Looking Glass' ICBM-launch and nuclear command-and-control mission after the Navy retires its E-6B fleet. The work marks the start of a USAF-led effort to restore an airborne launch capability.

Discovered 2026-01-26T17:09:25.064259-08:00 | 2026-01-26T17:09:25.064259-08:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

  • The move transfers responsibility for ensuring airborne ICBM-launch continuity as the Navy retires the E-6B (as the Navy retires the E-6B), directly affecting U.S. nuclear command-and-control posture.
  • Drafted requirements will set acquisition, platform and sustainment parameters that determine program cost, schedule and industry participation; earlier USAF work showed open-architecture, government-owned-data approaches can materially affect sustainment and modernization strategies (open-architecture/government-owned data).
  • The timeline and technical scope will create near-term obligations for aircraft integrators, C2 systems suppliers and primes, informing budget planning and contractor proposals.

Reported By

aerospaceglobalnews.com realcleardefense.com interestingengineering.com The War Zone
Sources Tracked
8
First Seen
2026-01-26T17:09:25.064259-08:00
Latest Update
2026-01-29T06:51:22.770500-08:00
Coverage
Defense

Sources

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