Air Force Accelerates Delivery Date for New Presidential Jet

The United States Air Force has announced an earlier than expected delivery date for the new presidential transport aircraft. Boeing’s Air Force One program is now set to deliver the first VC-25B jet by mid-2028, a timeline that has been advanced from the previously estimated range of 2028 to 2029. This update comes as the Air Force confirmed on Friday it would allocate an additional $15.5 million to upgrade the communications systems for the two aircraft.

An Air Force spokesperson explained that these costs are linked to the integration of new communication capabilities. This enhancement will allow the VC-25B jets to meet evolving mission requirements, which have changed since the program’s inception. The spokesperson stated, “This modification can be accomplished within the current program schedule with the projected delivery date for the first VC-25B aircraft in mid-2028.”

The communications upgrades are distinct from the contract’s firm-fixed-price engineering and manufacturing development efforts, which have now reached a total value exceeding $4.3 billion. The work on these upgrades is expected to be completed by December 2024.

Commitment to Timely Delivery

In September 2023, Air Force Secretary Troy Meink expressed confidence in the project’s timeline. He emphasized that both aircraft are on track, stating, “I think we’re able to deliver them when the President needs them.” This assurance comes amidst ongoing pressures from the administration, particularly concerning the program’s delays.

The initiative to replace the aging VC-25s, which have been in service since 1990, began in 2015. Boeing was awarded the contract to construct two new 747s as replacements, with an estimated cost of $4 billion. However, the project faced significant challenges after former President Donald Trump publicly criticized it in December 2016, claiming the program was already over budget and should be canceled.

Following this, Boeing pivoted to utilize two 747s that had been built for a defunct Russian airline but were never paid for. Work on the new jets started in 2020 but has been hindered by workforce and parts shortages. Initial delivery projections slipped from 2026 to 2027, and then to a range of 2028 to 2029.

Alternative Solutions and Funding Adjustments

In response to the ongoing delays, Trump accepted a modified Boeing 747 from Qatar as an interim Air Force One solution during the summer of 2023. Subsequently, Meink estimated the cost to upgrade this luxury jet would be less than $400 million. He later revealed to Congress that funds were reallocated from the service’s Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile program to finance the modifications.

Meink indicated that he anticipates the retrofit would take “just short of a year,” aiming to ensure that the interim aircraft remains operational until the new VC-25Bs are ready. The developments surrounding the Air Force One program illustrate both the complexities of military procurement and the pressing need for modernized presidential transport capabilities.