Having lost patience with Boeing, President Donald Trump is now embarking on his own Air Force One project to ensure that he has a new 747 operational by the end of the year.
According to The Wall Street Journal, President Trump has become increasing frustrated with Boeing over delays to the arrival of two new Air Force One jets that he commissioned during his first term in office.
On February 18, 2025, a Trump official admitted that the project could be delayed until 2029, or even later, meaning the current president would never step foot on the aircraft.
With that in mind, President Trump and US officials have instead commissioned technology firm L3Harris to overhaul a Boeing 747 previously used by the Qatari government as a stopgap.
Sources told The Wall Street Journal that the Boeing 747 will be retrofitted with advanced technology suitable for an Air Force One aircraft.
The refurbished ‘Queen of the Skies’ would complement the two existing presidential Boeing 747-8 planes, collectively known as VC-25B.
In July 2024, Ted Colbert, the Head of Boeing Defense, Space and Security, admitted that the company was grappling with supply chain, inflation and workforce challenges.
It is unlikely that the new modified Boeing 747 will meet the US president’s specific needs, which include advanced navigation systems, defensive capabilities, and facilities for high-level meetings and secure communications.
Air Force One 747s also feature advanced defensive systems and countermeasures to protect against various threats, including missile attacks and electronic warfare.
In February 2025, President Trump dismissed the idea that he could instead turn to Airbus to build the next generation of Air Force One aircraft.
“I would not consider Airbus. I could buy one from another country perhaps or get one from another country,” President Trump said.
Based in Florida, L3Harris is a long-term partner of Boeing, having supplied advanced avionics and mission systems to the company for many years.
The two companies have collaborated on multiple projects, including the T-7A Red Hawk trainer and Boeing’s F-35 and F/A-18 Hornet.
