US Air Force pays $13 billion for new 'doomsday' planes that protect president ... trends now

American is set to get a new fleet of 'doomsday planes' that some have said signal the nation could be preparing for World Ward III.

The US Air Forced announced a $13 billion contract to develop craft to replace the aging Boeing planes that are used to protect the president during a nuclear attack.

The funds were awarded to Sierra Nevada Corp, which will design a successor to the E-4B 'Nightwatch' that features a mobile command post capable of withstanding nuclear blasts and electromagnetic effects.

The project, called Survival Airborne Operations Center, is expected to be completed by 2036.

The Air Force has a fleet of four E-4Bs, with at least one on alert at all times, but the Boeings are aging and many parts have become obsolete.

Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), an American aerospace company, said: 'SNC is building the airborne command center of the future! 

'SAOC is a highly specialized aircraft that ensures continued critical command, control and communication during national emergencies for POTUS, Secretary of Defense and Joint Chiefs of Staff.

'We're honored to support this important mission.'

Boeing was let go as the sole provider of the doomsday planes in December 2023 after the company and US military could not agree on pricing for the next-generation fleet.

Details of SNC's design have not been shared, but the craft will likely resemble the current E-4B 'Nightwatch.'