Sierra Nevada beat Boeing to replace the Air Force's E-4B Nightwatch. The task, however, of developing a new airborne survival operations center will not be simple.

Sierra Nevada Corporation was awarded with a contract to develop platform for new Survival Airborne Operations Center (SAOC)

Designed to withstand a nuclear attack, Boeing E-4B Nightwatch jets are close to completing 50 years of service with the US Air Force with no replacement in sight.