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.