The United States is collaborating with L3Harris Technologies to retrofit a used jumbo jet previously owned by the Qatari government, which may serve as a new presidential aircraft, according to sources familiar with the situation.
This initiative follows President Donald Trump’s expressed dissatisfaction regarding the delays related to modification efforts by Boeing. During his initial term, Trump negotiated a contract with Boeing to convert two 747s into the next Air Force One, but setbacks in production have raised concerns that the aircraft may not be ready before his term concludes.
Both L3Harris and Boeing refrained from commenting on the matter, and the White House has not provided an immediate response.
“We may buy a plane or get a plane, or something,” he stated, as reported by Reuters, while inspecting the Qatari 747 stationed at Florida’s Palm Beach International Airport.
Boeing’s CEO, Kelly Ortberg, mentioned during an earnings call on April 23 that the company is actively collaborating with U.S. officials to adjust the program plan aimed at facilitating an earlier delivery while preserving the principles of safety and quality.
Ortberg noted earlier in January that Boeing had been consulting with Trump advisor Elon Musk to expedite the aircraft delivery process.
Despite the delays with the new Air Force One jets, the U.S. Air Force awarded Boeing a contract in March for the construction of a next-generation fighter jet, a project estimated to be worth upwards of $20 billion.
“In terms of all of the attributes of a fighter jet, there’s never been anything even close to it, from speed to maneuverability, to what it can have, to payload. And this has been in the works for a long period of time,” Trump highlighted in a news release on March 21. “America’s enemies will never see it coming.”
