US Air Force to Receive Qatari-Donated Boeing 747 VIP Jet by 2026
The United States Air Force expects to take delivery of a VIP-configured Boeing 747-8 donated by Qatar to the US government by mid-2026, as part of interim plans to support the presidential airlift mission. According to a report by Bloomberg, the aircraft is expected to enter service within the next several months and no later than summer 2026.
In a statement provided to Bloomberg, the Air Force said it “remains committed to expediting delivery of the VC-25 bridge aircraft in support of the presidential airlift mission, with an anticipated delivery no later than summer 2026.” The aircraft is intended to serve as a temporary solution as the Air Force prepares for the eventual introduction of the next-generation presidential aircraft.
The announcement came a day after one of the two current Air Force One aircraft, Boeing 747-200-based VC-25As, returned to Joint Base Andrews shortly after departure due to a minor electrical issue. The aircraft had been carrying President Donald Trump to the World Economic Forum in Davos. The incident highlighted the age of the existing presidential fleet, which has been in service since 1990.
Earlier in January, the Air Force took delivery of the first of two Boeing 747-8 aircraft acquired from Lufthansa. These aircraft are not intended for presidential transport but will be used to establish a training and sustainment programme for aircrews and maintenance personnel. The programme is designed to support the transition to the new presidential aircraft configuration.
The Air Force is preparing to introduce two heavily modified Boeing 747-8 aircraft designated as VC-25Bs, which are scheduled to enter service in mid-2028. Once operational, the VC-25Bs will replace the ageing VC-25A fleet, which has faced increasing maintenance and reliability challenges in recent years.
The Qatari-donated Boeing 747-8, registered in the United States as N7478D with manufacturer serial number 37075, is being retrofitted to meet US government and security requirements. The modification work is being carried out by L3Harris Technologies, which is responsible for installing communications, defensive systems, and mission-specific equipment required for VIP transport.
While the aircraft will not replace Air Force One on a permanent basis, it is expected to provide additional resilience and operational flexibility during the transition period. Officials have described it as a bridge aircraft that will help ensure continuity of presidential airlift operations until the next-generation VC-25Bs are ready for service.
The delivery of the Qatari-donated jet underscores the complexity and long timelines associated with modernising the presidential fleet, as the Air Force balances near-term operational needs with long-term replacement programmes.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com