Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Defense has officially received a Boeing 747-8i from Qatar Airways, formerly used by the Qatari royal family, signaling a strategic move in the ongoing effort to modernize the presidential aircraft fleet. Although the details of the transfer remain largely undisclosed, multiple defense officials confirm that the aircraft was handed over at no cost, though the U.S. government will bear the expense of converting the jet to meet presidential security standards.
The aircraft, now being examined at a U.S. Air Force facility, will undergo extensive modifications before being deemed fit for presidential use. These upgrades will likely include high-end defensive systems, secure communications infrastructure, and structural reinforcements to protect against both physical and electronic threats.
With the current Air Force One planes—two VC-25A aircraft dating back to the early 1990s—showing their age, and delays pushing the arrival of the next-generation VC-25B replacements to at least 2027, the Qatar-donated 747-8i could fill a vital role. While it may not replace Air Force One entirely, it could be used for secondary or backup missions. Still, defense experts caution that retrofitting the aircraft to presidential specifications could come with a hefty price tag, possibly nearing that of acquiring a new plane.
The donation also casts a spotlight on Qatar’s strategic relationship with the United States. The Gulf nation, home to Al Udeid Air Base—a central hub for U.S. operations in the Middle East—has long maintained close military ties with Washington. Nonetheless, some critics argue that the move could be interpreted as a diplomatic gesture aimed at strengthening influence, especially in light of Qatar’s controversial regional alliances and its critics’ accusations of financing extremist activities.
Pentagon officials insist the transaction adhered to rigorous legal and operational scrutiny and involved no hidden terms. However, the absence of transparent budgeting for the conversion process has raised questions among oversight organizations.
Looking ahead, the U.S. Air Force is expected to manage the upgrade effort, likely contracting major defense firms such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, or L3Harris. A classified schedule for when the aircraft will be ready for use is anticipated within a year, and congressional inquiries into project costs are likely given recent debates surrounding defense expenditures.