Trump says VC-25B bridge aircraft will be "maxed out" with new upgrades

The U.S. President said to reporters that the new VC-25B Bridge aircraft will soon undergo additional modifications to introduce new capabilities.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the VC-25B Bridge aircraft, which recently entered service with the U.S. Air Force as the new presidential aircraft, will soon undergo new modifications. The information was disclosed by Trump to reporters while returning from the FIFA World Cup final in New Jersey on July 19, 2026.

This was in response to reporters asking whether the new aircraft is equipped with defensive capabilities after having to switch to the older VC-25A when returning from the NATO Summit in Turkey. “It has a lot of capability, but as I understand it, in about a month ​or so, they’re gonna send it to have it be maxed out…It’ll take about ​a month," said Trump.

The President did not elaborate on the nature of the planned modifications. Similarly, the U.S. Air Force had not publicly commented on the announcement at the time of writing.

Questions over defensive systems after overseas trip

The announcement follows weeks of scrutiny over the aircraft’s defensive capabilities and overall security configuration. The service previously confirmed that the jet has been fitted with at least a certain level of advanced communications and self-defense capabilities, without providing further details.

Typically, U.S. Air Force aircraft designated to serve as Air Force One receive extensive upgrades, including hardened defenses, secure and redundant communications systems, and survivability enhancements intended to support presidential command and control during a national emergency or nuclear conflict.

Given the expedited timeline, it is unclear which requirements were fulfilled during the conversion. It is possible, however, that some of the capabilities requiring more extensive modifications will be set aside.

Unconfirmed rumors mentioned the aircraft might be limited to flights within the U.S. because of the lack of sufficient defensive capabilities. As mentioned earlier, however, the VC-25B was used to fly Trump to Turkey.

While Trump flew to Ankara on the VC-25B Bridge, a VC-25A accompanied him as backup aircraft, as usual in U.S. presidential flights. On the return leg, however, Trump switched plane.

According to The New York Times, the decision was due to a security precaution related to the recent fall of the ceasefire with Iran and the resumption of hostilities. The President later denied this, saying it was done so the VC-25B could leave early and give personnel assigned to U.S. bases in Europe a chance to see it.

Once at RAF Mildenhall, UK, the President switched aircraft once again. He also told reporters that, while on the VC-25A, they were "on a dangerous plane" due to the threat from Iran and him being "Iran's number one target."

VC-25B Bridge aircraft

The VC-25B Bridge aircraft conducted the first presidential flight as Air Force One on July 1, 2026, after arriving at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, in early June 2026. The aircraft arrived there following a secretive nighttime flight to avoid unveiling the new livery before the official ceremony, which took place on June 19.

After the unveiling, the VC-25B Bridge started a series of certification flights ahead of its official entry into service with the 89th Airlift Wing's Presidential Airlift Group. The controversial aircraft, a modified 747-8i donated by Qatar, underwent a rapid conversion process with minimal changes in order to act as a "bridge" until the fully-fledged VC-25Bs enter service.

Critics highlighted the possible security risks of using an aircraft transferred by another nation to fly the U.S. President. However, the Air Force explained that "elite specialists from multiple government agencies developed advanced protocols to detect and-if necessary-neutralize potential technical hazards on previously owned aircraft."

"The safety and security of the commander in chief is our highest priority," said Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink. "From the beginning, we meticulously evaluated every requirement to accelerate delivery while maintaining the high standards expected of the presidential mission. This effort proves that the U.S. Air Force can move fast without sacrificing quality, security, or reliability."

The fielding of the VC-25B Bridge aircraft could be considered a "forced decision," as the Air Force needed options to avoid capability gaps in the presidential transport mission. In fact, the service explains that an interim capability became an absolute imperative as the Boeing VC-25B deliveries delayed past the initial 2024 target and VC-25A heavy maintenance cycles are extending.

Despite the unusually public debate surrounding the aircraft, details about its conversion remain scarce. The Air Force has so far declined to discuss the specific modifications being made or whether any requirements were adjusted to accelerate delivery.