Air Force to Buy Lufthansa 747s for Presidential Airlift

Branch expects to pay $400 million for the aircraft.

Zach Vasile

Thursday, December 18, 2025 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

A rendering of the new VC-25B [Credit: U.S. Air Force/Wikimedia Commons]

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. Air Force is acquiring two Boeing 747-8i aircraft from Lufthansa.
These purchased jets will serve as training aircraft and a source of spare parts for the future VC-25B (Air Force One) fleet, addressing sustainment needs for the out-of-production model.
The main VC-25B modification program for the next Air Force One planes has faced several years of delays, with delivery now anticipated by mid-2028, prompting an interim aircraft acquisition and political criticism.

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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.