The US Air Force has announced the acquisition of two additional Boeing 747-8 aircraft for approximately $400 million. The purchase supports training and sustainment for the future presidential airlift fleet as delays continue to push back delivery of the next-generation Air Force One aircraft.
The US Air Force is procuring two additional Boeing-made 747 jets from Lufthansa to support the VC-25B presidential airlift program. The aircraft will be used for training and spares, with delivery expected early next year.
The US Air Force expects to receive its first modernized Air Force One aircraft in mid-2028, roughly two-and-a-half years later than initially forecast. The program's revised timeline comes after Boeing secured a deal personally mediated by President Trump in 2018 and faced numerous challenges, including COVID-19 disruptions and workforce woes.
The US Air Force has admitted that President Trump's Air Force One delivery will be delayed by another year, with the first aircraft now expected to arrive in mid-2028. Despite previous delays, Boeing aims to deliver the new aircraft in 2027.