Qatari 747-8i in US livery enters final mods as VC-25B Bridge after May 2025 gift
A Qatari-donated 747-8i received US presidential livery while undergoing undisclosed modifications for interim Air Force One use. Evidence from Air Force updates and imagery shows cosmetic completion ahead of classified systems integration. The move highlights procurement opacity around foreign airframes and persistent VC-25B delays.
The pattern mirrors prior acceptance of foreign platforms without full independent audit trails, raising questions on whether the paint job precedes rather than follows comprehensive security hardening. Delivery to the 89th Airlift Wing remains the next measurable milestone; any slippage beyond Q3 2026 would expose reliance on the aging VC-25A fleet.
Air Force: Bridge aircraft achieves initial operational certification no earlier than October 2026 after countermeasures and comms integration complete.
Sources (2)
- [1]Defense News Report(https://www.defensenews.com/news/your-military/2026/06/10/qatari-donated-air-force-one-now-sports-red-white-and-blue-paint-job/)
- [2]USAF Presidential Airlift Group Update May 2026(https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4200000/)