L3Harris to Retrofit Qatari 747-8 Jumbo for Air Force One

The U.S. government has tapped L3Harris Technologies to carry out modifications on a pre-owned Qatari Boeing 747-8 that could be pressed into service as the next Air Force One, a person familiar with the matter said. The decision comes amid growing concern in the Trump administration over persistent delays and cost overruns on Boeing’s original retrofit program for two new presidential aircraft. President Trump toured the Qatari jet in Florida this past winter and publicly floated the idea of acquiring an alternative plane to meet the administration’s timeline.

In 2018, the Air Force awarded Boeing a contract to convert two 747-8s into highly customized executive transports at a price of roughly $3.9 billion. Since then, however, the project has slipped years behind schedule and the cost has ballooned by more than $2 billion, according to multiple reports. Boeing CEO David Calhoun has acknowledged the challenges on recent earnings calls, pledging to work with the customer to accelerate delivery without compromising safety and quality.

Faced with the potential prospect that the converted 747s might not be ready before the end of President Trump’s term, White House aides began exploring other options. Trump’s public visit to inspect the Qatari government-owned jumbo jet at Palm Beach International Airport underscored his impatience with Boeing’s delays. He told reporters in February that he was considering “buying a plane or getting a plane” if the original aircraft were not delivered promptly.

L3Harris, a defense contractor with experience in avionics upgrades and specialized mission systems, emerged as a candidate to reconfigure the Qatari aircraft for presidential use. While Boeing retains responsibility for the original retrofit work, the administration has asked L3Harris to step in on the alternative jet, performing structural modifications, communications integration and other necessary changes. Neither L3Harris nor Boeing would comment on the arrangement, and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for clarification.

The Qatari plane’s availability presented a rare opportunity. Qatar Airways donated the jet to the U.S. government following the Gulf state’s controversial policies on human rights and press freedoms. The administration viewed the aircraft—already outfitted with secure communications and comfortable passenger accommodations—as a potential stopgap solution. With L3Harris’s refurbishment, the plane could serve either as a primary presidential transport or a backup until Boeing finishes its own conversions.

Despite the friction over the Air Force One project, Boeing recently secured a major new contract to build the Pentagon’s next-generation fighter jet, a program valued at an estimated $20 billion or more. President Trump lauded the fighter award in March, highlighting its advanced capabilities and potential to keep adversaries off balance. That same week, Boeing reaffirmed its commitment to delivering the Air Force One planes, even as it juggles the demands of multiple high-stakes defense programs.

The unfolding situation underscores the challenges of modernizing the presidential fleet. Air Force One must combine the aeromedical, communications and defensive features of a military aircraft with the luxury and reliability expected of an executive transport. Any delay or budget overrun can have political as well as operational repercussions.

As L3Harris begins work on the Qatari 747, the program will be closely watched for its ability to meet accelerated deadlines. If successful, the modified jet could alleviate some of the pressure on Boeing and ensure that President Trump has a fully operational Air Force One in time for future international trips and state visits. For now, the administration’s decision to diversify contractors reflects a pragmatic approach to a project that has become emblematic of broader procurement and program management challenges facing the department of defense and its industrial partners.

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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, cnbc.com