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President Donald Trump toured an upgraded Boeing 747 at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Friday as the aircraft moves closer to entering service as part of the Air Force One fleet. The luxury jet, originally gifted by Qatar, has undergone extensive modifications by defense contractor L3Harris Technologies and is expected to serve as an interim presidential aircraft while Boeing completes its delayed next-generation Air Force One program.
The Boeing 747 has been repainted in a striking red, white, dark blue, and gold color scheme selected by Trump. The aircraft has also completed flight testing and received major upgrades designed to meet presidential transportation requirements. These enhancements reportedly include advanced communications systems, anti-eavesdropping technology, and missile defense capabilities aimed at ensuring the safety of the president and accompanying personnel.
The aircraft will provide a more modern and luxurious travel experience for Trump, White House staff, security teams, and members of the media. While the exact cost of the retrofit has not been disclosed, some aviation and defense experts have raised concerns that the accelerated modification timeline could leave the aircraft less secure than the current Air Force One fleet.
Addressing those concerns, Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink stated that the safety and security of the commander in chief remained the military’s highest priority throughout the fast-track upgrade process. Officials emphasized that every modification was carefully evaluated to maintain presidential-level standards while speeding up delivery.
The Qatar-gifted jet arrives as Boeing continues work on two purpose-built VC-25B aircraft under a $3.9 billion contract awarded in 2018. The project is now approximately four years behind schedule, with deliveries expected in mid-2028. Boeing has also faced significant cost overruns, recording more than $2.4 billion in charges related to the program.
The updated livery marks a departure from the iconic Kennedy-era Air Force One design and will also be used on future VC-25B aircraft and several modified Boeing 757 jets used by senior U.S. government officials.
