The U.S. Air Force’s new Air Force One, a $400 million Boeing 747-8 gifted by Qatar, has begun commissioning and is expected to enter service this summer as an interim presidential aircraft, the service confirmed in June 2026.
Officially designated the VC-25B Bridge, the aircraft completed modifications and flight testing by May 1, 2026, according to an Air Force announcement. The plane, which arrived in the United States in February 2025 after Qatar’s government gifted it to President Donald Trump, has undergone extensive upgrades to meet presidential security and operational standards.
The jet was painted in red, white and blue livery as of June 10, 2026, and is undergoing final government modifications ahead of its rollout, the Air Force told Defense News. The service declined to specify what those final modifications entail, but converting a luxury aircraft to Air Force One standards typically requires reinforced defense systems with countermeasures, encrypted communications, electrical power upgrades, and a mission communication system, according to the White House and defense officials.
The U.S. Air Force is targeting a Fourth of July delivery for the VC-25B Bridge, according to Reuters and other sources from May 2026. The aircraft will serve as a temporary replacement for the aging VC-25A fleet while Boeing completes two permanently modified 747-8 aircraft—now expected in 2028, years behind the original 2024 delivery target.
The VC-25A, which has served as Air Force One since 1990, completed what appears to be its final presidential mission on June 18, 2026, when White House staff posted farewell messages to the aircraft after more than 35 years in service. The retirement of the aging fleet underscores the urgency of the interim solution, as the original VC-25B program has faced repeated delays and cost overruns.
The Qatari gift emerged from Trump’s frustration with Boeing’s delays to the VC-25B program. In May 2025, after the Pentagon formally accepted the aircraft from Qatar’s royal family, Trump stated it would be “stupid” not to accept the donation. The Air Force commissioned defense contractor L3Harris to rapidly modify the luxury jet for presidential use, a task completed in roughly one year—far faster than the permanent replacements being built by Boeing.
Sources
- Defense News — Qatari aircraft paint job and final modifications status (June 10, 2026)
- Air Force (AF.mil) — VC-25B Bridge program completion of flight testing (May 1, 2026)
- Reuters — U.S. targeting Fourth of July deployment for Qatar-gifted jet (May 6, 2026)
- CNN — White House staff farewell messages and 35-year service record (June 18, 2026)
- NPR — Aircraft delivery timeline and bridge role (May 2, 2026)
- Wall Street Journal — Trump’s frustration with Boeing delays and L3Harris modifications (January 21, 2026)
