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President Donald Trump said that the Qatar-gifted Boeing 747 will be taken out of service for about a month so it can be upgraded, but experts think it could take longer.
Trump’s Jet May Not Be Able to Improve in a Month
According to Reuters on Monday, the jet started carrying Trump on July 1, but its protection package drew attention after he changed planes mid-trip on July 8, flying an older Air Force One from Turkey to the United Kingdom as tensions with Iran climbed.
Douglas Birkey, who is the executive director of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, cited in the report, said the long-standing Air Force One fleet introduced in the 90s includes advanced defensive gear such as anti-missile technology, but he believes the White House accepted less protection on the Qatar aircraft to get it operating faster, the report said.
Birkey said any changes completed in roughly a month would probably center on non-kinetic options, including electronic jamming and infrared systems meant to disrupt heat-seeking missiles, the report said.
Mark Cancian, a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, also cited in the report, said the timeframe limits what can be accomplished and said the work may amount to software changes or add-ons such as flares or chaff.
Boeing Confirms 2028 Delivery Timeline
The news comes as Steve Parker, who is the CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security, confirmed during an event in the U.K. that the company would be delivering two Air Force One aircraft in 2028, but warned that it could result in heightened costs for the company.
Meanwhile, Trump has faced sharp criticism from Democratic lawmakers over the $400 million Qatar-gifted Boeing 747, with Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) earlier calling the aircraft the "Air Fraud One."
Benzinga Edge Rankings show Boeing offers poor Value and Momentum. It also fails to provide a favorable price trend in the Short, Medium and Long term.
Price Action: Boeing Co shares were down 1.88% at $210.00 during premarket trading on Tuesday
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by a Benzinga editor.
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This article Trump Says Qatar-Gifted Boeing 747 Will Be Upgraded in a Month—Experts Aren't So Sure originally appeared on Benzinga.com.
