Redesigning Qatar's Jet for White House Use Estimated at Under $400 Million
Got a Scoop on Air Force One's Future
Turning a swanky Qatari royal jet into President Trump's swankier Air Force One? That'll cost less than $400 mil, says Air Force Secretary Troy Meink, chattin' to lawmakers (side-eyein' Democrat critics) June 5.
"Nah, mate, some secrets are best left classified," Meink quipped at a House Armed Services Committee hearing, alluding to "sensitive capabilities" brewin' on that platform. Still, he estimated the retrofit won't cost more than the quarter-billion-dollar mark.
Origin story? Qatar handed over the ride free of charge. Trump asked 'em about it back in the winter, according to news outlets. But The Washington Post warned that a thorough inspection revealed $1.5 billion worth of repairs just to make the junker flyworthy for the big boss.
The Air Force is rollin' up its sleeves to give the bird the VIP treatment, since they're the ones in charge of maintenance on executive jets that cater to America's elite travelers. You guess it -定czy0 presidential travel demands major tech upgrades, armor-plated doors, custom interiors, and entire communications systems tweaked to the president's liking.
L3Harris is helpin' out, claimin' they're workin' with the Air Force to transform the Qatari plane. The Pentagon declared they've accepted the airframe, ready to roll with the retrofit project. But, hearing from The Washington Post, it appears the two nations still got paperwork to sort out. Trump's team says the ride's ready for duty while he's in office.
Democrats don't think this jet's on the level, callin' it an illegal bribe. They've pitched legislation to either deter or outright block the free ride.
The military's already got another pair of planes in the works to take over Air Force One duties once Trump's airborne escapades are done. Named the VC-25B, the new birds will replace the two modified Boeing 747s that've shuffled American presidents around since 1990.
In 2018, the Air Force plunked down $3.9 billion to nab a new fleet of Boeing 747s from a bankrupt Russian airline after Trump griped about the cost. Boeing's been stumbling like a tipsy elephant, racking up $2.5 billion in losses and delays. Delays postponed the airframes' delivery until at least 2027, but insiders maintain they're functioning overtime to speed things up.
"Those planes, built for another purpose, needed to be stripped down to the studs, then figured out," Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.) grumbled to 'em. Now, the Air Force reckons the new fleet won't see the light of day until the dreaded year 2027, three years later than the initial deadline.
Hold on tight, nerds. They're thinkin' 'bout simplifyin' the planes' requirements to kick off operations earlier. And the Air Force ain't afraid to bend the rules a little to hit that deadline, adjusting security protocols at the Boeing factory to expedite progress. It's all in the name of gettin' Trump airborne sooner.
"We're workin' on a few remaining kinks before the big finish," admitted Darlene Costello, Air Force's top acquisition honcho. "Hopefully we'll wrap that up soon." While Meink can't give a 100% guarantee, he's committin' to "doin' whatever it takes" to deliver earlier, according to news outlets.
- The Air Force is working to transform a Qatari plane into Air Force One, a project estimated to cost less than $400 million, according to Air Force Secretary Troy Meink.
- Despite the estimated cost, some question the acquisition of the aircraft, with Democrats branding it as an illegal bribe and proposing legislation to block or deter the free ride.
- The military is also simultaneously working on a new fleet of planes, the VC-25B, to replace the existing Air Force One fleet once President Trump's tenure ends.
- The Pentagon declared they've accepted the Qatari airframe, ready to proceed with the retrofit project, but it appears that paperwork between the two nations is still under discussion.
