USAF Rushes New Air Force One Delivery to 2027
The United States Air Force is accelerating efforts to deliver the next Air Force One, as President Trump presses for a redesigned presidential jet before a potential second term ends in 2029. At a House Armed Services Committee hearing on May 7, 2025, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Air Force Darlene Costello said Boeing aims to hand over the first VC-25B in 2027, though she stopped short of guaranteeing that milestone. The push reflects growing impatience in the White House over delays in the program that began more than a decade ago.
Costello explained that the Air Force is working closely with the White House to define what capabilities are “acceptable” for the new aircraft, underscoring the importance of matching the jet’s performance to presidential needs. She noted that lingering challenges around interiors supplier transitions, workforce shortages at critical subcontractors and the complexity of finalizing intricate wiring designs must be resolved before a firm delivery date can be set. “We are committed to replacing the 35-year-old VC-25A with reliable air transport equipped with communications capability and security equal to that of the White House,” she said.
Lieutenant General David Tabor joined Costello in affirming the commitment to modernize presidential air transport. The current VC-25A models—based on the Boeing 747-200—have served since the early 1990s but lack today’s fuel efficiencies and defensive technologies. By contrast, the pending VC-25B variant, derived from the 747-8, will boast upgraded avionics, advanced missile defense systems, improved range and more efficient engines. These enhancements are crucial to ensuring uninterrupted command-and-control capability, even in contested airspace.
To mitigate ongoing modification delays, USAF leaders said they are pursuing options with commercial and government partners to accelerate the program. In February 2025, after growing frustrated with repeated postponements, President Trump urged an alternative solution: hiring technology firm L3Harris to retrofit a Boeing 747 formerly operated by the Qatari government as a temporary presidential aircraft. That stopgap jet will supplement the two VC-25Bs ordered during his first term, ensuring the commander-in-chief has a modern transport even if the primary program slips.
Costello told lawmakers that once these technical and supply-chain issues are ironed out, the Air Force will provide a clearer overhaul timeline. “We’re working through VC-25B modification delays attributed to interiors supplier transition, manpower limitations and wiring design completion,” she said, emphasizing the balance between speed and adherence to stringent safety and performance standards. Until then, the service remains in close coordination with Boeing and oversight bodies to drive faster progress.
The VC-25B program, funded at nearly two billion dollars to date, faces scrutiny from Congress as lawmakers consider additional appropriations and oversight measures. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has cited the need for similar investments in overhauling air traffic control systems, suggesting that lessons learned in one modernization effort could benefit another. With billions already committed, key stakeholders are watching closely to ensure that the new Air Force One arrives well before President Trump’s term concludes in 2029.
As the Air Force works to meet the 2027 target, the urgency surrounding the project underscores the symbolic and strategic value of Air Force One. Beyond serving as a mobile command center, the plane represents U.S. leadership and technological prowess. For President Trump and his successors, securing a reliable, state-of-the-art presidential aircraft remains a top priority—one that the USAF is now racing to fulfill.
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