Trump plans to take his inaugural flight on a refurbished Boeing 747, a gift from Qatar, functioning as a rebuilt Air Force One, in February.
Air Force One: Qatari 747-8i Retrofit Offers Faster but Costly Solution
The retrofitting of a Boeing 747-8i, gifted by Qatar to President Donald Trump, is expected to serve as a temporary solution for Air Force One, with an estimated cost of between $400 million and nearly $1 billion and a timeline of up to two years for completion[1][3][4].
This project involves extensive work, including the installation of secure communications, missile defense systems, aerial refueling capability, protection against electromagnetic pulse attacks, and the removal of any potential surveillance hardware[2][3].
In comparison, the current Air Force One planes, Boeing VC-25A (modified Boeing 747-200B), are about 35 years old and increasingly costly to maintain and update[2]. The planned new Air Force One program, contracted to Boeing in 2018, involves building two highly customized Boeing 747-8i aircraft, with an original fixed-price contract of approximately $3.9 billion[5]. However, this new program has faced multiple delays and cost overruns, with deliveries expected around 2027 but potentially slipping as far as 2029 or later[5].
| Aspect | Qatari 747-8i Retrofit | Current Air Force One (VC-25A) | New Air Force One (747-8i Program) | |-----------------------------|---------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------| | Cost | $400 million - nearly $1 billion (classified estimate) | Existing operational costs (older planes) | $3.9 billion contract (two planes) | | Timeline | ~1-2 years retrofitting | Already in service, aging | Deliveries expected 2027 or later | | Modernization Features | Secure comms, missile defense, refueling, EMP protection, surveillance removal | Aging with limited upgrades | Highly customized with advanced secure features | | Source of funds | Reallocated from U.S. Sentinel missile program | Funded by defense budgets | Budgeted by Department of Defense | | Status | Accepted as donation from Qatar, undergoing retrofits | Active duty | Under construction by Boeing |
The Qatari 747-8i retrofit is considered a stopgap measure due to delays and high costs of the new program, allowing presidential air transport to be modernized sooner, albeit with some ethical and security concerns raised about accepting a foreign government donation[1][4]. President Trump has indicated the retrofitted plane could be operational as early as February 2026, ahead of the new Air Force One planes[2][5].
President Trump claims he was able to negotiate a discount of $1.5 billion to $1.7 billion off the price for the exact same plane, referring to the Qatari 747-8i[6]. The White House has not yet responded to FOX Business' request for comment regarding the new Air Force One project[7].
Meanwhile, the retrofitting of the 13-year-old Qatari jet for presidential use could cost hundreds of millions of dollars, according to Air Force Secretary Troy Meink[8]. The new Air Force One plane could be delivered up to two years earlier than initially planned[9].
In July 2018, the Air Force awarded Boeing a $3.9 billion fixed-price contract for two highly customized 747-8s[10]. Qatar gifted President Trump a Boeing 747-8i, the largest and newest version of the 747 series[11]. The retrofitted jet will be outfitted with secure communications systems, missile defenses, aerial refueling capabilities, protection against electromagnetic pulse attacks, and countermeasures for electronic jamming[12].
However, the current Air Force One jets are aging and it's hard to get parts for them[2]. Boeing's division handling the Trump fighter jet program is bracing for a strike after the union rejected a contract offer[13]. The two Air Force One planes that President Donald Trump flies in are military versions of Boeing's 747-200B, known as the VC-25A, and they entered service in 1990[2].
References: 1. Air Force One: Qatar Gifts 747-8i to Trump, Sparking Debate 2. Air Force One: Why the President's Planes Are 35 Years Old 3. Air Force One: The Cost of Upgrading Trump's Plane 4. Air Force One: Trump's Qatar Plane Could Cost More Than $1 Billion 5. Air Force One: The New Planes Could Be Delivered Two Years Later 6. Trump Claims He Negotiated a Discount on Air Force One Plane 7. White House Declines to Comment on Air Force One Project 8. Air Force Secretary: Retrofitting Qatari 747-8i Could Cost Hundreds of Millions 9. Air Force One: New Planes Could Be Delivered Two Years Earlier 10. Air Force Awards Boeing $3.9 Billion Contract for Two 747-8 Air Force One Planes 11. Qatar Gifts President Trump a Boeing 747-8i 12. Air Force One: What the Plane Will Look Like 13. Boeing's Division Handling Trump's Fighter Jet Program Braces for a Strike 14. The Two Air Force One Planes That Trump Flies In Are Military Versions of Boeing's 747-200B
- The extensive work on the Qatari-gifted Boeing 747-8i, including its installation with secure communications, missile defense systems, aerial refueling capabilities, protection against electromagnetic pulse attacks, and countermeasures for electronic jamming, is reflective of its potential to modernize the economy, industry, and politics within the aerospace sector.
- The deliberations surrounding the Qatari 747-8i retrofit and the new Air Force One program highlight the intricate dynamics between the economy, finance, and politics, particularly the balancing act between maintaining national security, cost efficiency, and operating within financial constraints.
- With the Qatari-gifted Boeing 747-8i serving as a potential temporary solution for Air Force One, general-news outlets have covered the story extensively, discussing its implications on the economy, politics, and the aerospace industry, as well as the ethical and security concerns associated with accepting a foreign government donation.
