The New York Times (NYT), citing US officials, reported that the new presidential plane being prepared for the Trump administration lacks some of the defensive capabilities found on the old Air Force One.
According to the report, the Boeing 747 gifted by Qatar and modernized lacks a defense system designed to neutralize heat-seeking missiles. On the old planes, components of this system were visible under the wings and on the tail, but no similar structure was seen in photos of the new plane.
Former US military officials who worked on the project said that the accelerated schedule left insufficient time to make all the security modifications required for a fully equipped presidential plane. A former senior White House official also stated that security concerns frequently caused tensions between White House staff, military advisers, and the Secret Service over travel plans.
Current Air Force One Fleet
The current VC-25A Boeing 747-200B aircraft, first introduced during the George H. W. Bush administration, have served all US presidents since. According to Trump, the fleet of two identical planes was used for 223 international trips to 96 countries during his term, logging more than 6 million miles in total.
After nearly 35 years of carrying presidents, the aging planes are being retired, making way for the extensively refurbished Boeing 747 that serves as the new Air Force One.
The new plane, put into service after an accelerated schedule led by the Pentagon and contractor L3Harris, was made ready for presidential duties at the request of the Trump administration.
