During the Cold War, the United States developed a secret fleet of modified Boeing 747s known as the EC-135 Looking Glass. These airborne command posts were designed to provide a mobile, survivable platform for the president and top military commanders in the event of a nuclear attack. The Looking Glass aircraft were equipped with advanced communications systems, including a high-frequency radio that could penetrate the electromagnetic pulse generated by a nuclear detonation. They also carried a variety of nuclear weapons, including air-to-air missiles and nuclear bombs, which could be launched from the aircraft if necessary. The Looking Glass fleet operated for over 30 years, providing a vital link between the president and the military during the tense years of the Cold War.
