Washington: Increased activity of the United States military’s so-called “Doomsday planes” has raised global attention as tensions rise amid the ongoing conflict involving Iran, according to a report by the Daily Mail.

Flight-tracking data shows several missions carried out by the E‑6B Mercury a strategic airborne command aircraft operated by the United States Navy. The aircraft, built on a modified Boeing 707 airframe is designed to function as a flying command centre capable of surviving a nuclear attack while coordinating the country’s military response.

Reports indicate that multiple flights have been recorded since February 28, when the conflict escalated. Two flights were tracked over the United States on March 2, including one landing at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland and another departing from Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska.

The aircraft perform a mission known as Take Charge and Move Out (TACAMO) which ensures nuclear command orders can still be transmitted if normal communication systems are destroyed.

Although such flights are sometimes conducted for training, the increased activity comes amid heightened regional tensions and missile attacks across the Middle East, raising concerns about possible escalation.