Image: An E-4B National Airborne Operations Center aircraft takes off from Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., July 10, 2019. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jacob Skovo.
By Smartencyclopedia
The U.S. Air Force has announced the creation of the 95th Wing at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska, a move aimed at enhancing the nation’s strategic command and control capabilities. The new wing, announced on September 4, will unify multiple command and control units from the Active-duty Air Force, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve, bringing them under one umbrella for better coordination and resource allocation.
The decision marks a significant step in the military’s efforts to ensure the United States remains fully prepared to deter and defeat adversaries, particularly in nuclear or major crisis scenarios. Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), a retired Air Force brigadier general who once commanded Offutt’s 55th Wing, praised the move. “This decision represents the culmination of years of work by the Air Force and the congressional defense committees,” Bacon said in a statement.
E-4B National Airborne Operations Center (NAOC)
The new 95th Wing will consolidate units including the 595th Command and Control Group (CACG) at Offutt, the 253rd CACG from the Wyoming Air National Guard based in Cheyenne, and the 610th Command and Control Squadron from the Air Force Reserve at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. Though no personnel will relocate, about 70 new military jobs will be created at Offutt over the next few years, with the first positions expected to be filled in spring 2025. The wing is projected to be fully operational by 2027.
A key responsibility of the 595th CACG is ensuring that senior U.S. officials, including the president, can maintain nuclear command, control, and communications (NC3) and direct conventional forces during a crisis. This unit operates the E-4B National Airborne Operations Center (NAOC), colloquially known as the ‘Doomsday Plane.’ The E-4B is a specially modified Boeing 747, designed to withstand the effects of nuclear detonations, including electromagnetic pulses while providing global communications capabilities.
By establishing the 95th Wing, the Air Force aims to streamline command and control operations. “The 95th Wing will provide a unified command path to assure readiness” for the E-4B NAOC and NC3 missions, the Air Force said in its announcement. The wing’s formation is also intended to provide more resources and improve coordination across the involved units.
The Air Force emphasized that this move is part of a broader reorganization, preparing the military for future potential conflicts, particularly with near-peer rivals such as China and Russia. The unification of Reserve and Guard units within the 95th Wing is expected to standardize funding paths and improve readiness.
“Modern war technologies make defense readiness and command efficiencies more critical than ever before,” said Rep. Adrian Smith (R-Neb.), in response to the wing’s activation. “The activation of the 95th Wing will serve to strengthen American military effectiveness.”
The announcement follows a major $13 billion contract the Air Force awarded earlier this year to replace the aging NAOC fleet with the Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC). The current E-4Bs, which have been in service since the 1970s face numerous challenges, including rising maintenance costs, outdated parts, and capability gaps. The new SAOC aircraft, which will be based on newer Boeing 747-8 passenger jets, are expected to enter service by the 2030s, providing a much-needed upgrade to the Air Force’s airborne command and control capabilities.
As the Air Force continues to modernize and reorganize, the 95th Wing stands as a key development in ensuring the U.S. remains prepared for any future threats to national security.