The U.S. Air Force plans to buy two Boeing 747-8i aircraft from German carrier Lufthansa to support its presidential airlift program.
According to a Reuters report, the Air Force will use the jets for training and as a source of spare parts for two other 747-8is being modified by Boeing to serve as the next Air Force One. This upgraded military version of the 747 is known as the VC-25B.
The two aircraft serving as Air Force One, termed VC-25As, are based on a different 747 variant, the 747-200.
“Given the 747-8i is no longer in active production, and is a very different aircraft than the 747-200, it is important for the Air Force to establish an overall training and sustainment strategy for the future Air Force 747-8i fleet,” the branch said in a statement.
The purchase is expected to cost about $400 million. The first of the aircraft will be delivered to the Air Force early next year, while the second will arrive before the end of 2026, Reuters reported.
Delayed Debut
The Air Force has been planning for the VC-25B since 2009. In 2015, it selected the 748-8i as the basis for the presidential transport and authorized Boeing to start design and engineering work.
The ongoing modifications are extensive and require engineers and technicians to install special quarters, a medical annex, and a command center, in addition to top-secret security features and anti-eavesdropping systems.
Delivery of the VC-25B has been delayed by several years, due in part to technical problems and supply chain issues. The two aircraft are now expected to be ready by mid-2028.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire to fly on a new Air Force One before he leaves office in January 2029. He has also criticized Boeing for its failure to meet its original delivery deadline.
In May, Trump accepted a 747-8 offered to him by the government of Qatar and said he would use it until the VC-25Bs are ready. While the aircraft must undergo extensive reconstruction—including thorough searches for listening devices—the president has said it may make its debut as early as February 2026.
Military aviation experts are skeptical of that timeline, given the extent of the modification work ahead.
