**Operation Looking Glass**
**Definition:**
Operation Looking Glass was a United States Air Force airborne command and control mission established during the Cold War to ensure continuous command capability of the U.S. nuclear forces. It involved specially equipped aircraft that remained airborne 24/7, ready to assume command and control of strategic nuclear forces in the event of a nuclear conflict or destruction of ground-based command centers.
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## Operation Looking Glass
Operation Looking Glass was a critical component of the United States’ strategic nuclear command and control system during the Cold War. Initiated in 1961, the operation involved the continuous airborne deployment of command post aircraft designed to maintain uninterrupted command and control over U.S. nuclear forces. The mission was intended to guarantee that, even in the event of a nuclear attack that destroyed ground-based command centers, the U.S. military could still direct its strategic forces, thereby ensuring a credible deterrent and second-strike capability.
### Historical Background
The concept of airborne command posts emerged in the late 1950s and early 1960s amid escalating tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union. The threat of a surprise nuclear attack raised concerns about the survivability of fixed command centers, such as the Strategic Air Command (SAC) headquarters at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. To address this vulnerability, the U.S. Air Force developed a system that would allow senior military leaders to maintain command authority from the air.
Operation Looking Glass was officially launched on February 3, 1961, with the first mission flown by a specially modified Boeing EC-135 aircraft. The operation was named „Looking Glass” to symbolize the aircraft’s role as a mirror image of the ground-based command post, capable of assuming full command responsibilities if necessary.
### Mission and Purpose
The primary mission of Operation Looking Glass was to provide a survivable airborne command post that could direct U.S. strategic nuclear forces, including intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), strategic bombers, and submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs). The operation ensured that the President of the United States, the Secretary of Defense, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff could maintain command and control over nuclear forces at all times.
Key objectives of Operation Looking Glass included:
– **Continuity of Command:** Maintaining an unbroken chain of command in the event of a nuclear attack or other catastrophic event.
– **Survivability:** Ensuring command capability was not dependent on vulnerable ground-based facilities.
– **Deterrence:** Reinforcing the credibility of U.S. nuclear deterrence by guaranteeing a second-strike capability.
– **Communication:** Providing secure and reliable communication links with strategic forces worldwide.
### Aircraft and Equipment
Operation Looking Glass utilized specially modified versions of the Boeing EC-135, a derivative of the KC-135 Stratotanker airframe. These aircraft were equipped with advanced command, control, and communication systems designed to operate in a nuclear environment.
#### Boeing EC-135
The EC-135 was chosen for its range, endurance, and ability to accommodate the necessary command and control equipment. The aircraft featured:
– **Advanced Communications:** Secure voice and data links capable of connecting with nuclear forces, other command posts, and national leadership.
– **Command and Control Consoles:** Workstations for senior military officers to monitor and direct strategic operations.
– **Electronic Countermeasures:** Systems to protect against electronic warfare and nuclear effects.
– **Crew:** Typically included a mix of command staff, communications specialists, and flight crew.
Over the years, several variants of the EC-135 were used, including the EC-135C, which became the primary platform for Operation Looking Glass missions.
### Operational Procedures
Operation Looking Glass was unique in that it maintained a continuous airborne presence. At any given time, at least one EC-135 was airborne, ready to assume command responsibilities immediately if ground-based command centers were compromised.
#### Continuous Airborne Alert
The operation maintained a 24/7 airborne alert posture, with aircraft taking off and landing in a carefully coordinated schedule to ensure no gaps in coverage. This continuous presence was maintained for nearly three decades, from 1961 until 1990.
#### Command Handover
When a new aircraft took over the mission, a formal handover process ensured seamless transfer of command authority. The incoming crew would establish secure communications and verify operational status before the outgoing aircraft returned to base.
#### Integration with Strategic Forces
Operation Looking Glass was integrated with the broader U.S. nuclear command and control architecture, including:
– **Strategic Air Command (SAC):** The primary command authority for U.S. strategic forces during the Cold War.
– **National Military Command Center (NMCC):** The Pentagon-based command center that coordinated with airborne assets.
– **Ballistic Missile Submarine Command:** Communication links to submarine-based nuclear forces.
### Strategic Importance
Operation Looking Glass played a vital role in maintaining the credibility of U.S. nuclear deterrence during the Cold War. By ensuring that command and control could survive a first strike, the operation reinforced the concept of mutually assured destruction (MAD), which depended on the certainty of a devastating retaliatory strike.
The continuous airborne presence also served as a visible demonstration of U.S. resolve and technological capability, signaling to adversaries that the United States could maintain command authority under any circumstances.
### Evolution and Modernization
Throughout its operational history, Operation Looking Glass underwent several upgrades to its aircraft, equipment, and procedures to keep pace with technological advancements and changing strategic requirements.
#### Transition to E-6 Mercury
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the EC-135 fleet began to be phased out and replaced by the Boeing E-6 Mercury aircraft. The E-6, based on the Boeing 707 airframe, offered enhanced communications capabilities and greater range.
The E-6 Mercury assumed the Looking Glass mission and expanded its role to include the „Take Charge and Move Out” (TACAMO) mission, which involved communicating with ballistic missile submarines via very low frequency (VLF) radio transmissions.
#### End of Continuous Airborne Alert
In 1990, the continuous 24/7 airborne alert posture of Operation Looking Glass was officially ended, reflecting changes in strategic doctrine and the reduced likelihood of a surprise nuclear attack following the end of the Cold War. However, the airborne command post mission continued on a less continuous basis, with aircraft on ground alert and ready to launch if needed.
### Legacy and Current Status
Operation Looking Glass set the standard for airborne command and control missions and influenced the development of similar systems worldwide. Its legacy includes:
– **Demonstration of Airborne Command Post Viability:** Proving that airborne platforms could effectively serve as national command centers.
– **Technological Innovation:** Driving advancements in secure communications and command systems.
– **Strategic Deterrence:** Contributing to the stability of nuclear deterrence during a critical period in global history.
Today, the airborne command post mission continues under the U.S. Navy’s E-6 Mercury aircraft, which provide command and control capabilities for the U.S. nuclear triad. While the continuous airborne alert posture of Operation Looking Glass has ended, the principles of survivable command and control remain central to U.S. strategic doctrine.
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## See Also
– Strategic Air Command (SAC)
– National Military Command Center (NMCC)
– Boeing EC-135
– Boeing E-6 Mercury
– Nuclear Command and Control
– Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD)
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**Meta Description:**
Operation Looking Glass was a U.S. Air Force airborne command post mission established during the Cold War to ensure continuous command and control of nuclear forces. It maintained a 24/7 airborne presence to guarantee survivable command capability in the event of a nuclear attack.