WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Air Force expects to spend less than $400 million to convert a luxury Boeing 747 jet, donated by the Qatari government, into a new Air Force One—a significantly lower cost than previous estimates that topped $1 billion.
Air Force Secretary Troy Meink revealed the new price tag during a House Armed Services Committee hearing on Thursday, stating that the conversion costs are expected to stay under $400 million. While specific details remain classified, the retrofitting will include advanced encrypted communications, defense systems, and other top-secret modifications required for presidential use.
The Pentagon recently accepted the Qatari jet to serve as the official aircraft for President Donald Trump. Experts had initially projected the conversion could cost upwards of $1 billion, due to the extensive work needed to inspect for surveillance devices and install secure, classified systems.
This development marks a major step in the ongoing modernization of the presidential aircraft fleet and signals a potentially more cost-effective approach to replacing Air Force One.
