The US Air Force plans to use unspent funds from the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile program to refurbish a Boeing 747 received from Qatar as a gift. The refitting aims to convert the aircraft for use in the Air Force One fleet. Concerns have been raised about the potential cost of modifications, with estimates reaching up to $1 billion, though officials suggest a more plausible figure of $400 million. Security and communication systems will need extensive retrofitting. The Sentinel program remains fully funded despite the redirection of funds.
The Pentagon is set to shift funds from the US's Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile program to refit a jet gifted to the US and President Donald Trump by Qatar.
Critics have raised numerous concerns, including the cost of refitting it as well as security issues with turning a foreign jet into a flying White House.
Some lawmakers and outside experts have said the expected costs of modifying the jet could be as high as $1 billion, requiring extensive retrofitting of security and communications.
Meink disputed that cost, stating that refitting the plane would cost around $400 million and could be completed in a year.
Collection
[
|
...
]