U.S. Accepts Qatar’s Gift of Luxury Boeing 747 for Temporary Use as New Air Force One

Washington, D.C:The U.S. Department of Defense has officially confirmed that it has accepted a luxury Boeing 747 aircraft gifted by Qatar to be temporarily used as the new Air Force One for President Donald Trump. The aircraft, valued at approximately \$400 million, was formally received by U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, according to foreign news agencies.

The Pentagon spokesperson, Shaun Purnell, stated that the Department of Defense has instructed the U.S. Air Force to make the aircraft operational as Air Force One as soon as possible. “Work is underway to ensure that the plane meets all necessary security and mission-specific technical standards,” he added.

Experts highlight that transforming the Qatari royal family’s gifted aircraft into a fully functional Air Force One will require extensive modifications, including advanced communications systems, missile defense capabilities, and high-level security upgrades—potentially costing hundreds of millions of dollars.

This development comes amid significant delays and cost overruns in the official Air Force One replacement program. Boeing was awarded a \$3.9 billion contract in 2018 to develop two new presidential aircraft, but the project has faced delays and its cost has reportedly surged past \$5 billion.

President Trump, who accepted the jet as a gift ahead of his Middle East visit, stated that receiving the aircraft at no cost is a significant benefit for taxpayers. The newly acquired Boeing 747 will temporarily replace the aging 40-year-old aircraft currently serving as Air Force One.