In anticipation, Trump plans to take his initial flight in February aboard a refurbished Boeing 747, a gift from Qatar, serving as Air Force One.
The White House has revealed that the completion of the new Air Force One planes could be pushed back to 2029 or later, prompting the consideration of a Qatari-gifted Boeing 747-8i as a temporary solution.
In May, President Donald Trump accepted a Boeing 747-8i from Qatar as a gift. This aircraft, much newer compared to the aging VC-25As currently in use, could serve as a significant upgrade. However, it requires extensive retrofitting to meet the security and operational requirements for presidential use.
The retrofitted jet will undergo upgrades to its communication systems, missile defenses, aerial refueling capabilities, protection against electromagnetic pulse attacks, and countermeasures for electronic jamming. It will also need to be cleared of any potential surveillance hardware.
The Qatar jet is a Boeing 747-8i, the largest and newest version of the 747 series, while the current Air Force One planes are VC-25As, military versions of the older Boeing 747-200B model that entered service in 1990. The age and condition of the VC-25As, which are around 32 to 35 years old, have reportedly made them difficult to maintain due to parts scarcity.
The U.S. Air Force is expected to spend approximately $400 million on the retrofitting of the Qatar jet, in addition to its initial value of about $400 million. This retrofit is being funded by leftover funds from the LGM-35A Sentinel nuclear missile program.
President Trump claims to have negotiated a significant discount on the price of the new Air Force One planes, potentially saving up to $1.7 billion. The project to replace the current Air Force One jets with new ones is still ongoing, with Boeing aiming for 2027 to complete the new planes. However, the project has been years behind schedule and billions over budget.
The Air Force Secretary Troy Meink has not provided a specific cost for the retrofitting project, but it is expected to be substantial. The new Air Force One planes are being built by Boeing, and in July 2018, the Air Force awarded Boeing a $3.9 billion fixed-price contract for two highly customized 747-8s.
The Qatar-gifted jet is planned as a temporary or next-generation Air Force One to be used while new official planes are being built or upgraded, and is also intended to be part of Trump’s presidential legacy after his term ends. However, its operational role will be contingent upon the successful completion of the extensive retrofitting and security upgrades.
Sources: 1. Defense One 2. CNN 3. Politico 4. The Hill
- The White House's revelation about the potential delay of the Air Force One planes completion has sparked discussions about a Qatari-gifted Boeing 747-8i as a temporary solution.
- In May, President Trump received a Boeing 747-8i from Qatar as a gift, which could serve as a significant upgrade to the current Air Force One planes.
- The economy of the aviation industry may experience a boost if the Qatari-gifted Boeing 747-8i is used as a temporary Air Force One, considering the ongoing delays and cost overruns in the Air Force One replacement project.
- As the Qatari jet requires extensive retrofitting to meet the security and operational requirements for presidential use, the finance department may need to allocate funds for this purpose to ensure the safety and efficiency of the aircraft.
- In policy-and-legislation, the aerospace industry and national security will likely have debates about the implications of the Qatar-gifted jet being used as a temporary Air Force One, including its potential impact on future major purchases and partnerships in the industry.
- The entertainment, social-media, and technology sectors may cover the Qatar-gifted jet's retrofitting process and its eventual use as a temporary or next-generation Air Force One, using general-news reporting to keep the public informed about this unique situation.
