The Russian Aerospace Forces would receive 2 new Airborne Command Posts based on the Ilyushin Il-96-400M, replacing the current Doomsday Aircraft Il-86 type.
The idea is not new, since last year journalistic sources in that country warned that the replacement of the Il-86 was on the list of «tasks to be done», as part of the modernization effort of the Russian Armed Forces.
These airborne command posts were nicknamed «Doomsday plane» in the United States, as they are designed for use in the event of nuclear war or a major disaster that destroys the ground-based command infrastructure.
On this occasion, RIA Novosti informs that the creation of the new airborne command post has already begun. «The Russian Aerospace Forces will receive two air command posts based on the Il-96-400M. One is in production,» said an industry source.
The same source said that it is possible that a third unit of the same type will be ordered in the future, as there are 4 Il-86VKPs currently fulfilling these functions.
The Doomsday Planes were designed to evacuate the country’s top leaders and command and control troops in the event of the destruction of land and satellite infrastructure, especially strategic nuclear forces.
The flight range of the new Il-96-400M will be double that of its predecessor, the Il-86VKP. Like previous command systems, the Il-96-400M will be able to be refueled in the air, will carry the latest and most powerful self-defense systems (in addition to always being escorted by fighters) and will come integrated with powerful communication complexes that will allow receiving information from all types of sources and directing the operations of the armies on the ground, the Air Force, and the Strategic Aviation, as well as issuing orders to the fixed and mobile ballistic missile silos, including those of the nuclear submarine force.
