U.S. Air Force Redirects Unused Missile Budget to Upgrade Qatar Aircraft

The Air Force is planning to allocate surplus budget from the LGM-35A Sentinel nuclear missile initiative towards the conversion of a Boeing 747-8, donated by Qatar, into a new Air Force One for presidential use.

During a congressional hearing on June 26, Air Force Secretary Troy Meink clarified that the funds being redirected from the Sentinel project were deemed surplus for the fiscal year 2024. He emphasized that this reallocation would not impact the ongoing development of new intercontinental ballistic missiles or their launch structures, ensuring no delays would occur.

“I want to assure you that the Sentinel program is completely financed and possesses all necessary resources for timely execution,” Meink stated to the Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee.

Former President Donald Trump has expressed frequent frustrations over Boeing’s delays in constructing two new VC-25B Air Force One aircraft, initially scheduled for delivery in 2024. These are now expected by 2029, though Meink mentioned efforts are being made to advance the timeline to 2028.

Some analysts have raised concerns about the financial and practical implications of overhauling the Qatari-donated aircraft, which is projected to be in service for a limited time before potentially being transferred to Trump’s presidential library. They estimate the refurbishment could exceed $1 billion, questioning the prudence of such expenditure.

“This appears to be one of the more significant financial missteps in the Air Force budget, and it introduces several ethical and moral concerns,” Senator Chris Murphy, D-Conn., remarked during the hearing.

Meink responded by suggesting the billion-dollar projection was exaggerated, noting that the Air Force wouldn’t need to fund already covered costs like training and spare parts. He estimated the conversion of the Qatari aircraft could be achieved with less than $400 million and completed within a year.

Murphy critiqued Meink’s optimistic cost assessment as “wildly rosy” and pointed out that even if the plane was prepared by late 2026, it would not leave much time for its intended operational use before its speculated transfer to Trump’s library.

“Are we really considering spending between $400 million and a billion dollars on a stopgap plane that we’ll only use for a year or so?” Murphy questioned. “And then it just becomes a personal asset for former President Trump? That seems like a poor allocation of taxpayer money.”

However, Meink noted that the earliest delivery date for the VC-25Bs is now 2028, indicating that the Qatari jet would indeed be utilized for more than a year.

Details about the agreement for the gifted aircraft and its current status were not disclosed by Meink, who stated that the Air Force is ready to take possession and begin modifications.

Senator Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., inquired about reports that the Qatari jet might only be used for domestic travel due to security limitations and might require a fighter escort, unlike typical Air Force One aircraft which are equipped with extensive security features. Meink refrained from discussing specific modifications or operational concerns regarding the aircraft.

Meink also touched on the Sentinel program’s financial adjustments following a critical review due to anticipated cost overruns, leading to the early availability of some 2024 funds.

A sudden increase in the projected costs for necessary infrastructure to support the Sentinel, intended to replace the aging Minuteman III ICBMs, resulted in a significant budget analysis known as a Nunn-McCurdy breach in January 2024. A subsequent review in July 2024 led to a decision to restructure the program to manage expenses, although the revised cost estimate still approached $140.9 billion, down from a potential $160 billion.