Trump unveils upgraded Qatari jet set to join Air Force One fleet

US President Donald Trump on Friday introduced a newly upgraded Boeing 747 that is set to become part of the Air Force One fleet.

US President Donald Trump on Friday introduced a newly upgraded Boeing 747 that is set to become part of the Air Force One fleet after undergoing major refurbishment. The aircraft, which was gifted by Qatar, was presented at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland as officials confirmed it is close to entering service for presidential travel.

The aircraft has been extensively modified by defence contractor L3Harris Technologies and has completed flight testing before its expected delivery. It now carries a new paint scheme featuring red, white, dark blue and gold, a design personally selected by President Trump. The updated aircraft is expected to provide a more modern and comfortable option for the president, senior officials, security personnel and members of the media who travel on official visits.

Although the aircraft has been upgraded in a relatively short period, questions have been raised about whether the fast pace of the project allowed enough time for every security measure usually required for a presidential aircraft. Experts have expressed concern that the jet may not offer the same level of protection as the current Air Force One planes. However, US officials have defended the work, saying all necessary presidential safety standards have been met.

US Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said protecting the president remained the government’s highest priority. He stated that every requirement was carefully reviewed to speed up the aircraft’s delivery while ensuring the security and reliability expected for presidential missions.

The acceptance of the luxury aircraft from Qatar has also attracted political criticism. Some lawmakers questioned whether receiving such an expensive gift was appropriate. President Trump rejected those concerns, arguing that refusing the offer would have been unnecessary. According to aviation experts, the aircraft required extensive modifications including secure communication systems, protection against electronic surveillance and missile defence capabilities before it could be considered suitable for presidential use. Democratic senators have estimated that the total cost of these upgrades could exceed one billion dollars.

The aircraft will serve as a temporary replacement while Boeing continues work on two specially built Boeing 747 8 aircraft that are intended to become the next generation of Air Force One. Those planes were ordered under a multibillion dollar contract signed in 2018 but the project has experienced repeated delays. Current estimates suggest the aircraft may not be delivered until the middle of 2028, raising the possibility that they will not enter service before the end of Trump’s presidential term in January 2029.

The new colour scheme also represents a major change from the traditional white and blue design that has been used since the administration of President John F Kennedy. Earlier proposals for darker colours had been rejected because of concerns about overheating, but the latest version has now been approved and will also appear on other government aircraft used by the vice president and senior officials.

During the event, President Trump also announced plans for future international travel. He said he expects to visit Turkiye later this year and confirmed that he will make another trip to China. Trump also revealed that Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit the United States in September before he travels to China for a major international conference.