The United States is moving quickly to prepare a luxury jet gifted by Qatar for presidential use, with officials targeting a July 4 launch date, according to Beyond Time News.
The White House accepted the aircraft in 2025 and instructed the U.S. Air Force to speed up modifications required to transform it into a secure presidential plane. The upgrade work is being carried out by L3Harris.
Sources familiar with the matter say the administration is also considering an earlier rollout around June 14 to align with President Donald Trump’s birthday.
The gifted aircraft has sparked criticism from Democratic leaders and ethics advocates, who argue the move could create concerns over foreign influence and transparency. Trump, however, rejected the criticism and defended accepting the aircraft.
Security experts say the plane must undergo major upgrades before entering service. These include secure communication systems, anti-spying technology, and missile defense capabilities required for presidential travel.
According to Beyond Time News, the aircraft has completed flight testing and technical modifications and is now in the final painting stage ahead of delivery later this summer.
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Boeing’s Replacement Program Still Delayed
At the same time, Boeing’s official Air Force One replacement program continues to face delays. The project to convert two Boeing 747-8 aircraft into next-generation presidential jets is now expected to be completed by 2028.
The contract, initially valued at $3.9 billion in 2018, has reportedly exceeded $5 billion due to rising costs and production setbacks.
To improve progress, Boeing appointed former Northrop Grumman executive Steve Sullivan to lead the program in 2025.
The U.S. Air Force has also approved a new red, white, dark blue, and gold paint design for the future VC-25B fleet, replacing the long-standing blue-and-white color scheme introduced during the presidency of John F. Kennedy.
In December, the Air Force purchased two former Lufthansa Boeing 747-8i aircraft for training and spare parts support as it prepares to retire the current presidential fleet, which has been in operation since 1990.
