JOINT BASE ANDREWS: US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that his new Air Force One aircraft will undergo additional upgrades over the next month to enhance its capabilities following reports raising concerns about the jet’s security systems.
Speaking to reporters after returning from the FIFA World Cup final in New Jersey, Trump said the aircraft would be sent for modifications to be “maxed out,” but did not provide further details about the planned upgrades.
Why are the upgrades being made?
Trump’s remarks follow reports that the retrofitted Boeing 747-8 lacks some of the advanced defensive systems installed on the current presidential aircraft, including anti-missile countermeasures.
The president said the aircraft already has significant capabilities but would undergo further enhancements that are expected to take about a month.
What sparked the security concerns?
Questions about the aircraft emerged after Trump flew on the new jet on July 1 but returned from the NATO summit in Türkiye on July 10 aboard an older presidential aircraft.
Media reports suggested the new plane had not yet been equipped with the full range of security features typically found on Air Force One.
What is the background of the aircraft?
The Boeing 747-8 was donated by Qatar’s royal family after Trump criticized the ageing Air Force One fleet currently in service.
The aircraft features a redesigned red, white and navy-blue exterior selected by Trump. The donation has prompted debate in the United States over ethical, constitutional and national security considerations surrounding the acceptance of a foreign-government aircraft for presidential use.
What is next for the Air Force One fleet?
The US government is also awaiting delivery of two new Boeing Air Force One aircraft later this decade under a long-delayed replacement programme that has faced repeated cost overruns and schedule delays.