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4mo ago

Trump Administration Taps L3Harris to Retrofit Qatari 747 as Interim Air Force One

With Boeing's replacement jets delayed until 2035, the U.S. government has tasked L3Harris Technologies to prepare the Qatari-owned jet for limited presidential use by fall 2025.

Two Boeing 747 airplanes that serve as Air Force One when the President of the United States is aboard sit on the tarmac at the Galeao International Airport during the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on November 19, 2024.
Signage is displayed at the L3Harris Technologies, Inc booth at Special Operations Forces (SOF) Week for defense companies, in Tampa, Florida, U.S., May 7, 2024. REUTERS/Luke Sharrett
President Donald Trump Boeing 747 Air Force One

Overview

  • The U.S. government has commissioned L3Harris Technologies to retrofit a secondhand Qatari Boeing 747 as an interim Air Force One due to extensive delays in Boeing's replacement program.
  • President Trump, frustrated with Boeing’s timeline, aims to have the retrofitted plane operational by fall 2025 for limited use alongside the aging VC-25A fleet.
  • Boeing's Air Force One replacement program, originally expected to deliver by 2024, has been delayed to around 2035 due to supply chain, engineering, and workforce challenges.
  • The retrofitting by L3Harris will focus on basic upgrades, including paint and communications systems, as more extensive modifications are unfeasible within the compressed timeline.
  • This pivot highlights broader concerns about Boeing’s ability to meet commitments and reflects a shift in defense contracting strategies to address urgent needs.