The ALCS is operated by airborne missileers from Air Force Global Strike Command's (AFGSC) 625th Strategic Operations Squadron (STOS) and United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM). The system is located on board the United States Navy's E-6B Mercury, which serves as USSTRATCOM's "Looking Glass" Airborne Command Post (ABNCP). The ALCS crew is ...

The Looking Glass was the anchor in what was known as the World Wide Airborne Command Post (WWABNCP) network. This network of specially equipped EC-135 aircraft would launch from ground alert status and establish air-to-air wireless network connections in the event of a U.S. national emergency.

Strategic Air Command (SAC) started the Looking Glass mission on February 3, 1961, using Boeing EC-135C aircraft. Looking Glass, or Operation Looking Glass, is the code name used for the airborne command and control center, which in the beginning of Looking Glass was overseen by the Air Force.

2016年9月23日 · While it primarily functions as a communications relay platform for submarines with its two trailing antenna wires, it also serves as an Airborne Launch Control System (ALCS). The ALCS is joint-manned by eight U.S. STRATCOM battle staff mission members.

Starting on October 1, 1998, the ALCS has been located on board the United States Navy's E-6B Mercury. The ALCS crew is integrated into the battle staff of the USSTRATCOM "Looking Glass" Airborne Command Post (ABNCP) and is on alert around-the-clock.

The first and most famous example of SAC Airborne Command Posts (ABNCP) was a modified C-135 aircraft and crew, call sign “Looking Glass”, so named because its mission was to mirror the capabilities of the SAC underground command post.

The ALCS was operational from the late 60s until the early 90s. (Reports say it could be reactivated on short notice today.) ALCS consisted of five alert EC-135 aircraft. (Two squadrons of these former KC-135 aircraft were used to ensure that five were always on alert.) One of the five, LOOKING GLASS, was constantly airborne out of Offutt AFB, NE.

2024年2月8日 · The mission of the Airborne Launch Control System (ALCS): To provide a highly reliable alternate launch method for the Minuteman missile system. ALCS-equipped aircraft have the ability to launch Minuteman missiles using a UHF radio signal:

ALCS was a part of PACCS, which primarily provided airborne command control for SAC forces. The SAC Airborne Command Post (ABNCP, Looking Glass) anchored the system, with operating areas in the vicinity of Offutt and Whiteman AFB, Missouri (home of the 351st SMW, including the Emergency Rocket Communications System (ERCS).

In the event of a national emergency, the ‘Looking Glass’ and the two AUXCPs would orbit over the central US, the three ALCCs would orbit above the Minuteman missile fields in the north central and northwest US, and the two radio relay platforms would orbit over the Midwest, establishing and maintaining communications links with the ...