The newly acquired Air Force One, donated by Qatar, will be temporarily removed from service for approximately one month to undergo upgrades to its anti-missile defense systems, President Trump confirmed Sunday. The decision comes after the president utilized an older model of the presidential aircraft for his departure from the NATO leaders summit in Turkey earlier this month.
Trump announced on July 8 that he would travel on the older plane from the summit in Ankara to RAF Mildenhall in England. The stated reason was to allow American forces stationed at the UK base to tour the luxurious new aircraft. However, this switch generated speculation that security concerns related to the ongoing conflict with Iran were the primary driver for the last-minute change.
Reports have previously raised questions about the security retrofitting of the Boeing 747-8, suggesting it may not have been equipped with sufficient security measures, including advanced missile defense systems, before its initial deployment. US officials have historically been guarded about the specific defensive capabilities of the presidential aircraft, with past indications that the older Air Force One is equipped with technology designed to counter missile threats.
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung addressed the situation on July 9, stating that the administration utilizes various tools, including distraction and misdirection, to counter threats against American leaders. President Trump himself has publicly discussed alleged assassination plots by Iran, expressing concerns about being a primary target.
During his remarks at Joint Base Andrews, the president indicated that the enhancement process would take about a month. The Qatar-donated jet is expected to return to service with upgraded defenses upon completion of these modifications.