Sierra Nevada's purchase of five Korean Air aircraft for $671 million, potentially 747-8Is, suggests a replacement for the USAF's E-4B "Doomsday" aircraft as part of the SAOC program. The move aligns with Korean Air's fleet modernization plan, while the USAF's preference for a four-engine aircraft like the 747 hints at safety considerations, given the 50.1-year average age of its current E-4B fleet.
By Shreya M
The US Air Force's (USAF) E-4B "Doomsday" aircraft may be replaced by a Boeing 747-8I derivative, according to the sale of five Korean Air aircraft to the US corporation Sierra Nevada.
Sierra Nevada will purchase five aircraft from Korean for $671 million , according to a stock exchange filing made on May 8th in South Korea. According to the petition, the jets will be disposed of on September 30, 2025.
The airline in question has refrained from divulging the specific aircraft model involved in the transaction. Rather, they have articulated their adherence to a strategic fleet modernization plan aimed at retiring older aircraft in favour of newer iterations. However, an unattributed source cited by Reuters alleges that the five aircraft in question are likely to be 747-8Is. Cirium's fleet data indicates that Korean Air presently operates nine 747-8Is, with ownership distributed such that the airline possesses five units, while the remaining four are under the control of undisclosed entities.
The USAF gave Sierra Nevada a $13 billion contract to replace the E-4Bs as part of the Survivable Airborne Operations Centre (SAOC) programme, two weeks before to Korean's revelation.
It is probable that the USAF prefers a four-engine aircraft such as the 747 for the SAOC requirement, as this would offer a better safety margin than an aircraft based on a twinjet, such as a 777.
The average age of the United States Air Force's four E-4Bs is reported to be 50.1 years. Korean Air's CEO, Walter Cho, stated in a 2021 interview, that the 747-8Is would remain in service with the airline until 2031. In early April, Korean Air provided insights into its forthcoming widebody fleet plans, confirming its procurement of 33 Airbus A350s. This includes orders for 27 A350-1000s and six A350-900s. Additionally, Korean Air has standing orders for A321neos, as well as 787-9s and -10s, and 737 Max 8s.
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