Trump turns to L3 Harris for interim Air Force One amid Boeing delays

Trump turns to L3 Harris for interim Air Force One

US President Donald Trump has lost patience with Boeing over repeated delays in delivering the next-generation Air Force One jets. In response, the US government—at Trump’s direction—has tapped L3Harris, a smaller defence contractor, to retrofit a former Qatari Boeing 747 into a temporary presidential aircraft by the end of this year. The plane is expected to feature select modifications to enable presidential use, though it will fall short of full VC-25A capabilities, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Boeing, which won the $3.9 billion contract under Trump’s first term to replace the aging presidential fleet, is now years behind schedule and billions over budget. Trump, who had hoped to fly on the new aircraft he personally negotiated, may not see them delivered during his presidency—if ever. Boeing recently told federal officials it may not complete the jets until around 2035, largely due to engineering complications including structural issues and complex wiring problems.

A temporary solution with a long-term vision
The interim solution—led by L3Harris, a Florida-based contractor specializing in advanced defence technologies—offers the Trump administration a stopgap while Boeing continues its troubled work. L3Harris had previously been a subcontractor on the Air Force One programme, managing communications systems. Now, it's been given a more central role in reworking the Qatari 747, likely focusing on limited upgrades such as secure communications and external appearance.

Air Force insiders have long argued for a third aircraft to serve as a backup when one of the two VC-25As—first flown during the George H.W. Bush administration—is grounded for maintenance. The ageing fleet requires increasingly intensive upkeep, risking gaps in the president’s ability to travel internationally.

Musk joins the effort to pressure Boeing
Trump’s frustration with Boeing has played out both behind closed doors and in public. Earlier this year, he hinted at a shift in plans after touring a Qatari-owned 747 in Florida. “I’m not happy with Boeing,” he said at the time.

Behind the scenes, Trump enlisted Elon Musk to help accelerate the Boeing project. According to insiders, Musk asked for detailed project information even before Trump’s inauguration, making Boeing executives uneasy. After taking office, Trump continued to push Boeing, with Musk reportedly helping to streamline bureaucratic requirements that were slowing progress. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg acknowledged Musk’s involvement in February, telling investors that he was helping distinguish between essential and excessive technical requirements.

Legal and political fallout for Boeing
Within the Trump administration, officials have discussed whether to sue Boeing or cancel the contract altogether—an option once considered before Trump’s first term. During the Biden administration, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall also weighed alternatives, including using European manufacturer Airbus or selecting a two-engine aircraft instead of the traditional four-engine 747.

Complicating matters further, Boeing’s work on the project has been delayed by FAA certification hurdles and difficulties in maintaining high-level security clearances for staff involved in the top-secret retrofit. Some officials have suggested that the Air Force One project has been hamstrung by overly burdensome demands that could be streamlined.

Political tensions flare over Air Force One aesthetics
Trump has also taken a personal interest in the look of Air Force One. His preference for a bold red-white-and-blue livery was blocked by the Biden White House, which raised concerns about increased heat signature and electronic interference. Boeing reportedly proposed alternative schemes that maintained Trump’s colours but substituted cooler shades like grey or white on the aircraft belly. One internal presentation even included several renderings of revised designs.

Military officials have quietly considered repainting one of the existing jets in Trump’s favoured scheme as a symbolic gesture for the incoming president. Whether the interim L3Harris plane will be painted to match Trump’s aesthetic vision remains unclear.

A shrinking timeline and uncertain results
Despite the push to have a new presidential jet ready by fall, analysts are sceptical about how much can be realistically accomplished in such a short time. Andrew Hunter, former Air Force acquisition chief, suggested the modifications would likely be limited to basic communications and visual changes. “You could do some paint, you could do some communications upgrades, and I suspect it would be hard to do too much beyond that on that timeline,” he said.

Still, with Boeing’s timeline extending well into the 2030s, Trump appears determined to sidestep delays and shape his own solution. As the White House explores alternatives and pressures the defence industry to deliver, the future of presidential air travel—like much else under Trump’s leadership—has taken a sharp and unconventional turn, the Wall Street Journal concluded.