US President Donald Trump knows how to keep the headline game strong. Under a recent stint, Trump kept a surprising proposal of turning a luxury jet gifted by Qatar (Boeing 747) to him into a replacement for Air Force One. The announcement was made by Trump on Sunday, stating that the Defence Department would be receiving a "GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE," in the form of a 747 aircraft to replace the 40-year-old Air Force One temporarily.
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While the gesture could raise significant ethical concerns due to the jet's value, it also prompts serious questions about the security of an aircraft potentially used by the President to maintain continuity of government during an emergency. Current and former officials told CNN that the project could cost hundreds of millions of dollars and take up to two years to install the essential security systems, communications, and defensive capabilities necessary for the aircraft to be safely used by the President.
Both the Boeing 747 and Air Force One contains aluminium. The former relies heavily on it for its construction, especially in the fuselage and wings. Commonly used alloys include 7075-T6 and 2024-T3. Remarkably, a single 747-400 contains over 66 tonnes of aluminium alloys. These materials serve as the primary structural components, complemented by other metals such as steel and titanium and advanced composites.
The jet is estimated to be worth $400 million, though a source familiar with the details of the plan suggests its value is closer to $250 million. However, overhauling the aircraft, according to administration estimates the source has been briefed on, could cost up to three times that amount or even more. Even if used temporarily, as Trump has suggested, U.S. agencies would need to strip the aircraft down to its frame and rebuild it, installing essential communications and security systems to ensure there are no vulnerabilities.
According to a retired senior military official, the process could take anywhere from several months to two years. Another official familiar with the situation expressed concerns that the White House may not fully grasp the extent of the work required, which will involve multiple intelligence agencies. The potential transfer of the jet from Qatar's Ministry of Defence to the U.S. Department of Defence has sparked an ongoing legal dispute, with the Department of Justice and Qatari lawyers working to address the complex legal issues involved.
In 2018, the Air Force awarded Boeing a $3.9 billion contract to convert two 747 aircraft into the next generation of Air Force One jets. By 2019, however, the Pentagon revised its estimate, projecting the total cost of building, outfitting, and testing the planes would rise to approximately $5.3 billion.
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