With the next-generation Air Force One chronically delayed and still a decade away from delivery, US President Donald Trump has lost patience with Boeing and is now attempting to procure an “interim” Air Force One from a smaller defense contractor by the autumn of 2025.
Angry At Boeing, Trump Looks To Alternate Source For “Interim” Air Force One Replacement By Autumn 2025
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that President Trump has reached the end of his patience with Boeing and is pivoting to L3Harris, another defense contractor, to provide an interim solution (thanks to Dennis Lennox for flagging this for me). L3Harris is a Boeing subcontractor and is already working on communications systems for the next-generation Air Force One.
In 2018, Trump ordered the next-generation jet for presidential transport (called Air Force One when the president is traveling on it) from Boeing, a pair of modified 747-8 jets.
Those aircraft were supposed to have been delivered already, but in February Boeing told the White House that delivery may be delayed as late as 2029, which would mean delivery would even not come during Trump’s non-consecutive second term. Now the aircraft has been delayed to 2034, a delay that has reportedly enraged Trump.
Trump personally examined a Qatari-owned 747 that he believes could become a future presidential aircraft. The aircraft, registration number P4-HBJ, touched down in West Palm Beach, Florida on February 15, 2025, located a short distance from Trump’s Mar-a-Logo retreat. According to White House logs, Trump spent 72 minutes onboard the aircraft.
> Read More: “I’m Not Happy With Boeing!” Trump Goes Plane Shopping Due To Air Force One Delays
It appears that jet will be used to create an “interim” Air Force One, offering an additional back-up for presidential transport and a way for Trump to showcase his new livery.
Once used by the Qatari Royal Family, the aircraft’s interior resembles Trump’s opulent penthouse in Trump Tower in New York City. That aircraft already features a $200 million missile defense system from Northrop Grumman (the ability to deflect certain incoming missiles with a high-powered laser).
Boeing blames the delay on classified communication and weapons systems, which the Qatar 747-8 the President examined does not have.
It is not clear if Florida-based L3Harris can install the type of security and defense systems that would offer the protection military officials deem is necessary for the POTUS to step on the aircraft.
Make It Make Sense…
A few thoughts here.
First, I simply do not understand how a project like this can take so many years. I realize that Boeing has many priorities and is trying to complete its (very delayed) 777X program. It’s not as easy as just hiring more people…you have to hire the right people, who are technically qualified. I also realize that Trump’s custom livery adds additional complications. Even so, this delay is astounding.
I view it as a metaphor of American impotence that we cannot complete a project like this in a timely fashion. This isn’t China, where train tracks are straight and infrastructure rapidly built because private property always takes a backseat to the “common good,” but there’s something deeply flawed about this project taking so long…10 more years from today?! 17 years to finalize an aircraft?
Second, the US Air Force has repeatedly said the current modified 747-200 aircraft (VC-25As) that serve as Air Force One are not only airworthy, but fit for service for decades to come. They are also beautiful…what’s the rush?! Setting aside Boeing’s ineptitude, why is it so important for Trump to have a new plane now? The Air Force has long said it wants a third plane so that there is always a backup available if one of the planes is undergoing maintenance, but this project has always been termed by the President as a replacement project, not a backup project.
Finally, if the delay is due to complications with the classified communications and weapons system, can L3Harris really deliver (or create) them any faster than Boeing? And if not, do we really want the POTUS creating a security vulnerability every time he steps on that aircraft (i.e., he becomes an easier target)?
CONCLUSION
Impatient with Boeing, it appears that President Trump will pivot to a different contractor in hopes of debuting an interim replacement for the aircraft currently used to transport the President of the United States. I fail to understand how the logistics work from a security perspective, but we’ll see if the White House comments on the new Air Force One later today.
While I don’t blame Trump for being impatient (there is no way Boeing should be taking anywhere this long to build those planes) the current ones are perfectly serviceable and well maintained. A waste of money IMO.
The air force is saying that, increasing, one of the two 747-200’s is unavailable because of maintenance and current requirements are for two of them to be available if there is a long distance overseas trip.
@cairns … Very important that the contractors get everything correct , and if that takes longer , so be it .
God, please don’t ever let us see that hideous Trump livery get painted on AF1. This blowhard think he has taste and style… it’s the tackiest of taste and style ever. Just look at the gold vomit that’s all over the Oval Office right now.
Boeing has drawn up 18, I think, alternative liveries for Trump to see.
there are a whole lot of other people in the US government that will decide if Qatar’s security needs for a Presidential transport are comparable to the US and I strongly suspect that this plane will not be considered acceptable for security reasons.
The President’s aircraft are highly modified and secure beyond what exists anywhere else in the world. Lots of the technology on Air Force One is top secret.
and Trump is right now acting as Chief Salesman for Boeing w/ his tariffs. Companies that are doing trade deals repeatedly include Boeing orders as part of the talks – along w/ energy and food.
Ryanair said it might ditch its Boeing order if the tariff issue is not solved but the EU has yet to come up w/ a deal w/ the US. Ryanair regularly threatens to walk away from Boeing but keeps coming back for more.
Boeing would probably rather build commercial airplanes w/ Trump as their salesman than Presidential aircraft.
US Air Force finds the current planes fit for service. Boeing should concentrate on its backlog of commercial orders. That said, it makes this purchase a vanity project that reflects badly on POTUS.
Trump should see if he can pick up a spare A380. Of course he would have to pay the tariff on import.
Oh, but it wouldn’t be big enough to accomodate his ego and I don’t suppose Airbus would want the brand polluted by association.
The latest reports is that the 747-8i under modifications now won’t be ready until 2035. The two current 747-200’s present problems because the air force always wants both available but, increasing, one is having significant maintenance work being done. What are the alternatives for overseas travel?
Is it the 757? Or is it this Qatari 747-8i? If the president leaves nuclear authority in Washington when he is overseas then a less capable plane can be used. That might be the best idea.
So let the president use the 757 when one of the 747-200’s is in maintenance or get a newer, less capable plane. How about a 737 MAX 8?
Actually glad you brought up the 757 (the USAF refers to them as the C32A), which POTUS does occasionally fly on as well. This is also not being talked about enough. The AF has a few of these and not only are they having maintenance issues left and right, but there’s simply no replacement for them since Boeing made the wonderful decision to cease production of the 757 years back. There’s no way they’d buy A321s either.
American impotence is a fantastic turn of phrase.
“Boeing blames the delay on classified communication and weapons systems, ”
Can’t they just use Signal?
Touche! An excellent idea!
What has happened at Boeing? In the 1950’s, they used pencil and paper to produce and deliver the B-52 and KC-135 in a matter of 4-5 years. Both continue to be mainstays of our Air Force strategic forces. The KC-46, first proposed in 2006 is still not fully mission capable and it will be 20 years to deliver a new VC-25. Boeing still has no replacement for the 757. Meanwhile, Airbus is putting out new airplane after new airplane. From industry leader to industry laggard in less than one generation. How pathetic.
bhn I have the same question. They were the company I revered. I would love to see some actual insight on the delay and the causes thereof. I think Trump should wait but I gotta wonder WTF is going on.
This is an obscene amount of time to deliver two aircraft- no matter how complex they may be or purport to be.
FWIW I worked for a defense company that had to deal with issues on the 767 tanker (KC-146). It was an ugly procurement. Boeing actually lost it twice- until the proposal parameters were changed from best value to technically acceptable lowest cost in order to basically give it to Boeing. They had numerous problems during development and some still linger- this is on a 767- an obsolete airliner. Unfortunately I can’t say what we did but the situation wasn’t pretty.
As much as I love Boeing the A350 would have been a better deal for the taxpayer IMO.
I know some think otherwise but I disagree with Trump on a heck of a lot. Yet if he can fire Boeing up on this- without wasting too much of our tax $- I’ll give him the credit that’s due.
Agreed. I flew the KC-135, both the original J-57 water wagons and the reengined CFM-56 models. Some were built the year before I was born. I always loved flying that plane, reliable and forgiving. Why can’t they get the KC-46 fully mission capable after almost 20 years on the drawing board?
When you look at the Presidential Limo, “The Beast” it appears to be a Cadillac but is basically a scratch engineered vehicle with James Bond features and a Cadillac grille in front. I suspect that Air Force One is essentially the same thing. These aren’t just factory VIP 747s with a presidential paint job. If they want something on the used market, good for them, but if what they need is a spare to rotate into the mix, just repurpose one of the many Air Force VIP aircraft currently in use for other government officials until the real thing arrives.
bhn FWIW my uncle flew the KC135 as an AF2 pilot. He flew Kissenger back and forth to Paris and the original Mercury 7 around the World. When I was a a kid I got to visit it at Andrews. My other uncle (I know no one cares) was a bombardier in the 8th.
At any rate my family grew up loving Boeing. Their airplanes saved many a life.
The KC146 had so many problems it was insane. We worked on the refueling boom and some other systems. All I can say is they tried to go too far too fast and on the cheap. The auditors were in charge. And the government, as usual, was gold-plating and stalling approvals. Not a good combination.