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Sierra Nevada Corporation has successfully completed another key milestone under the US Air Force’s Survivable Airborne Operations Center contract, completing the successful delivery of the aircraft to the National Institute for Aviation Research in Wichita, Kansas.
The delivery of the aircraft marks the next phase of Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC) engineering and manufacturing development since the contract was awarded in April 2024.
Under the US Air Force’s (USAF) SAOC contract, Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) will modernise and deliver a replacement for the current fleet of E-4B “Nightwatch” aircraft, which entered service in 1974. This highly specialised aircraft functions as an airborne command centre for the president of the United States, secretary of defence and chairs of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) to ensure ongoing critical command, control and communication (C3) capabilities during national emergencies.
Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) has strategically partnered with Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) team to leverage its globally recognised expertise in key areas of aerospace research and development. This partnership aims to deliver an innovative, cutting-edge solution to the USAF. NIAR’s experience in composites and advanced materials, digital twin technology, advanced manufacturing techniques such as additive manufacturing, and aircraft/component testing and certification makes it an excellent addition to the SNC-led SAOC team.
Jon Piatt, executive vice president at SNC, welcomed this milestone, saying, “SNC’s expertise in commercial-derivative aircraft modification and open systems architecture complement well NIAR’s digital modelling and other capabilities.”
In October, SNC celebrated significant growth at its Aviation Innovation and Technology Center (AITC) by opening a second state-of-the-art hangar and breaking ground on two additional hangars to support ongoing work on the SAOC contract and other large aircraft modification projects. SNC also took prompt delivery of a second 747-8i aircraft at the AITC under the SAOC program. This milestone enabled SNC to release the first aircraft to NIAR to commence its work.
The USAF’s selection of SNC for the SAOC program represents one of the largest aircraft modernisation contracts awarded to a company other than the original equipment manufacturer. This reflects a new acquisition approach that truly prioritises open systems, innovation, speed and life cycle cost competitiveness. SNC has championed this shift as one of the only private mid-tier A&D prime contractors. Throughout its 60-year history, SNC has consistently worked to expand the industrial base and deliver open architecture solutions across domains.
“Our customers have asked for an open architecture solution, digitally twinned, in order to reduce life cycle costs for this important mission,” Piatt said.
The SNC-led SAOC team also includes global A&D industry leaders Collins Aerospace, GE Aerospace, Greenpoint Technologies, Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, NIAR, and Rolls-Royce. This team of agile and proven performers combines their expertise to deliver innovation, disciplined speed, impeccable engineering and on-cost, accelerated deliveries to recapitalise the ageing E-4B fleet with next-generation NC3 capabilities.
SNC is a trusted global leader in aerospace and national security. Their innovative solutions enable connected protection through command, control and communications systems, as well as ISR, cyber, electronic spectrum management and other high capabilities for national security systems across all domains – sea, land, air, space and cyber.
