US Air Force estimates up to $400 million to convert gifted Qatari 747 into Air Force One
The United States Air Force (USAF) estimates that converting a Boeing 747-8—previously owned by Qatar’s royal family and accepted as a gift for the transport of U.S. President Donald Trump—will require an investment of several hundred million dollars. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink provided a cost estimate during a congressional hearing.
Addressing lawmakers, Meink stated that the budget to retrofit the aircraft “is likely under $400 million.” This figure was presented to counter some projections from Democratic lawmakers who estimated the total cost of converting the aircraft could exceed $1 billion.
Converting a civilian aircraft—even one as luxuriously outfitted as this 13-year-old 747—into a presidential platform designated as Air Force One involves a highly complex set of modifications. Industry experts explain that the process includes installing secure and encrypted communication systems to prevent espionage, integrating countermeasure suites to defend against missile attacks, and reinforcing the aircraft’s structure and critical systems with armor.
Meink clarified that a substantial portion of the estimated costs are expenses the Air Force would incur regardless. “I believe the $1 billion figure was mentioned, but many of the associated costs are expenses we would be facing anyway,” the Secretary explained, noting that this includes acquiring additional platforms for crew training and maintaining an inventory of spare parts.
- What aircraft is proposed as the new Air Force One? It’s a Boeing 747-8 that was part of the Qatar Amiri Flight, the VIP airline of the Qatari government. It was accepted as a gift by the Trump administration.
- Why is a new Air Force One needed? The current fleet, designated VC-25A, consists of two heavily modified Boeing 747-200s that entered service in the early 1990s. Their age increases maintenance costs and highlights the need for updated technology.
- What modifications are required for an aircraft to serve as Air Force One? It must include secure military communication systems, aerial refueling capabilities, electronic countermeasures (ECM), missile defense systems, and the ability to function as a government command and control center during national emergencies.
The original program to replace the presidential fleet, known as VC-25B, is facing chronic delays. Delivery of two new Boeing 747-8 aircraft purchased by the USAF from Boeing is now projected for 2027—three years behind schedule. These delays have opened the door to alternative solutions, such as the Qatari aircraft.
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The gift has sparked intense political and legal debate. Constitutional law experts have raised concerns about whether accepting such a significant gift from a foreign government aligns with U.S. regulations designed to prevent corruption and undue influence on public officials. Democratic lawmakers have introduced measures to block the aircraft transfer.
Qatar has dismissed concerns over the arrangement. Meanwhile, Donald Trump, who inspected the Qatari 747 at a Florida airport in February 2025, downplayed the ethical issues, calling it “stupid” not to accept the plane.
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