The current Air Force One jets are both 35 years old and are overdue for replacement
Debate has ensued after President Donald Trump recently said he would accept a luxury Boeing 747 from the Qatari royal family as a temporary Air Force One.
Lawmakers from both parties warn that it poses serious espionage and counterintelligence risks.
There is another issue
While Trump claims the Defense Department would receive the jet at no charge, it would need costly upgrades before use, including secure communications, missile defense, etc., which can cost hundreds of millions of dollars.
Why the new jet?
The current Air Force One jets are 35 years old and are overdue for replacement.
Boeing struck a $3.9 billion deal to deliver two new Air Force One planes by 2024. It is now running $2.5 billion over budget and is behind schedule.
The aerospace giant faced a series of mishaps and delays in recent years, including deadly crashes in 2018 and 2019, the mid-air door plug blowout last year, employee strikes, supplier bankruptcies, security clearance issues, and pandemic fallout.
Trump wants to use the 13-year-old Qatari jet until at least 2027, when one of Boeing’s replacements may finally be ready.