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A sizzling potato: Donald Trump and his administration are set to obtain an opulent $400 million new aircraft from Qatar that can be used as a brief Air Power One for the president. The aircraft is a free present, however the “flying palace” may find yourself costing taxpayers tens of millions as it can have to be retrofitted to put in the protection and safety features required by a POTUS.
Trump has expressed his displeasure at Boeing falling behind on a $3.8 billion mission to exchange the Air Power One fleet. The corporate initially aimed to ship two new Air Power One planes by 2024, however Air Power acquisition official Darlene Costello advised Congress final week that supply might be round 2027, and provided that Boeing and the federal government can come to agreements on sure necessities – the White Home believes the planes won’t be prepared till 2029.
However the Qatari Protection Ministry is gifting a Boeing 747-8 to the Pentagon to function a brief Air Power one till the brand new planes arrive.
Qatar’s aircraft, as soon as owned by the nation’s authorities, is adorned with gold-colored partitions, luxurious carpeting, leather-based couches, and different opulent options. Trump beforehand lamented the situation of Air Power one, calling it “a lot much less spectacular” than the planes in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar. “, we’re america of America. I imagine that we must always have essentially the most spectacular aircraft,” Trump stated.
Qatar says the aircraft is a present to the US Division of Protection for efficiently defending Qatar “for a few years,” in line with a Reality Social put up from Trump, who added that it might be “silly” to not settle for the plane.
However whereas Qatar is gifting the $400 million aircraft, it can require an enormous quantity of taxpayer-funded work to show it into an acceptable Air Power One.
The work contains upgrading the communications capabilities so the aircraft can be utilized as a scenario room. Air Power One’s air-to-ground, air-to-air, and satellite tv for pc comms techniques rival these of the White Home. It additionally has a extremely safe inner telephone system alongside an open one.
Along with superior, safe comms, Air Power One wants to hold weapon countermeasures in case of a missile assault. The electronics have to be shielded as a lot as potential to guard towards an electromagnetic pulse following a nuclear explosion, and the hull and different areas have to be armored. To not point out parts such a medical bay with a full suite of kit.
One thing else that’s going to take a whole lot of money and time is checking the aircraft for any hidden surveillance or monitoring techniques, together with within the software program and {hardware}, which can have to get replaced to make sure whole safety.
Former Air Power acquisitions chief Andrew Hunter advised Politico that retrofitting prices would doubtless fall “within the tens and even lots of of tens of millions of {dollars}.” It will additionally take years to finish, with some estimating the aircraft would not be prepared till 2030, after Trump has left workplace and the official Boeing Air Power One fleet has arrived.
Masthead: Sean Foster. photographs: Spotti Flight, AMAC Aerospace
