Key facts
- Boeing expects to deliver two new Air Force One jets in 2028.
- Meeting the 2028 delivery target will require additional spending.
- The program is already years behind schedule and billions of dollars over budget.
Boeing stated it is on track to deliver two new Air Force One jets in 2028, but this target necessitates increased spending on a program already behind schedule and over budget. The contract, initially $3.9 billion, has now exceeded $5 billion.
The ongoing cost increases and delays in the Air Force One program highlight significant challenges in complex government contracts and could impact taxpayer expenditure and national security readiness.
Boeing has indicated that it remains on schedule to deliver two new Air Force One presidential aircraft in 2028. However, achieving this deadline will necessitate further investment, as the program is already significantly delayed and has surpassed its initial budget by billions of dollars.
Steve Parker, CEO of Defense, Space & Security at Boeing, stated ahead of the Farnborough Airshow that the company is on track for the 2028 delivery and expects the first aircraft to commence testing next year. He acknowledged that cost growth is anticipated as the company completes wiring, structures, and its own certifications.
The original contract awarded to Boeing in 2018 was valued at $3.9 billion. Costs have since escalated to over $5 billion for the two aircraft, which are intended to replace the current Air Force One planes that entered service in 1990. The program involves converting two Boeing 747-8 aircraft into highly specialized jets equipped with advanced communication and defensive systems. Even with the projected 2028 delivery, the program would be four years behind its original schedule.
In a separate development, the United States accepted a Boeing 747 from Qatar in May 2025 for use as a temporary presidential aircraft, which has since entered service. Security concerns previously led President Donald Trump to avoid using the Qatari jet for his return journey from Turkey, opting instead for an older Air Force One.