The controversy over the luxury Boeing 747-8 airplane that Qatar wants to gift to Donald Trump has escalated with criticism even from Republican lawmakers, who have questioned the security measures that should be implemented to ensure the aircraft is safe for the President of the United States.
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Furthermore, the idea of the plane becoming one of the Air Force One planes faces serious technical and budgetary doubts. Three experts consulted by NBC News agreed that adapting this 13-year-old aircraft to the standards of the presidential plane would exceed one billion dollars and take several years, possibly beyond the end of a potential new presidential term in January 2029.
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What do experts say about the plane that Qatar wants to give to Trump?
Richard Aboulafia, an aviation expert and managing director of AeroDynamic Advisory, explained to NBC News that carrying out the transformation of an aircraft of this nature requires a complex and costly process. In his view, the work would involve completely dismantling the plane, installing top-secret equipment, and rebuilding it from scratch.
The Air Force One is not just a means of transportation, but an aerial platform designed to remain operational even in national crisis situations. It serves as a secure communication node, allows for the issuing of military orders, and even has the capability to direct nuclear actions. For this reason, its security and technology standards are among the highest in the world.
In the event of proceeding with the plane from Qatar, engineers should dismantle it piece by piece to verify the absence of unauthorized electronic devices, such as spyware or hidden listening devices.
After that process, it would be necessary to install sophisticated systems for encrypted communication, electronic defenses, missile protection, and special armor, as well as ensuring its ability to refuel in the air and withstand electromagnetic pulse attacks.
Medical facilities and spaces adapted for presidential security personnel should also be incorporated. All of this would raise the costs to over one billion dollars.
Furthermore, according to Aboulafia, tasks such as adding the aerial refueling system are particularly complex and could extend the work beyond 2030, when Trump is no longer president, in which case the plane would go directly to his presidential library.
The company L3 Harris, specialized in aerospace and defense solutions, could be in charge of part of the adaptation process.
Another challenge lies in the security clearance required for the technical personnel involved. The accreditation known as “Yankee White” is mandatory for those working on presidential aircraft or highly sensitive military systems. According to industry sources, Boeing has previously had difficulties in assembling enough personnel with this qualification.
Boeing and the contract with the White House
Currently, Boeing is developing a project to replace the current Air Force One by modifying two 747 aircraft, under a contract signed in 2018 with the United States Air Force.
The agreement, for 3.9 billion dollars, has faced multiple setbacks. In 2019, the Department of Defense revised the total costs to around 5.3 billion. Timelines have also been an issue: while delivery was originally expected by 2024, new estimated dates now point to 2029.
During a presentation before Congress on May 8th, Darlene Costello, a high-ranking official from the Department of the Air Force, stated that they could advance the delivery to 2027 if some initially established requirements are modified.