President Uses Older Air Force One as Qatar-Donated Jet Is Sent to UK

Overview

• This week the president returned from Turkey on the older presidential jet while the Qatar-donated Boeing 747-8 VC-25B Bridge was flown separately to RAF Mildenhall in the UK for U.S. personnel to view.
• U.S. media and government sources report the Secret Service advised the swap because the donated jet reportedly lacks some missile-detection and countermeasure systems and has unclear electromagnetic-pulse hardening.
• The U.S. Air Force says the VC-25B has been delivered to the Presidential Airlift Group and will begin initial commissioning flights and that it meets mission communications and safety needs.
• Industry and former Pentagon officials told reporters that completing a full defensive refit comparable to the prior Air Force One could take up to about two years and cost roughly $1 billion, with key shortfalls flagged in missile-evasion suites and structural EMP protection.
• Lawmakers and commentators have pressed for more details on the aircraft’s modifications and the decision to accept the foreign gift, and the swap could limit use of the VC-25B on trips to higher-threat regions until defenses are fully verified.