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Boeing’s replacement Air Force One aircraft missed their original 2024 target and have not entered service. The most detailed schedule in the Government Accountability Office’s 2026 assessment, based on Boeing’s September 2025 update, puts the first aircraft in mid-2028 and the second in mid-2029. Later statements from the Air Force and Boeing refer more broadly to deliveries in 2028; neither establishes a confirmed handover date for both aircraft.
When will Boeing deliver the new Air Force One aircraft?
The program is for two VC-25B aircraft intended to replace the current VC-25A presidential aircraft. The Air Force originally targeted delivery by 2024. The schedule has since moved substantially, but public statements do not all give the same level of detail.
| Source and date | What it says about delivery |
|---|---|
| GAO, 2026 assessment | Boeing’s September 2025 schedule update targeted mid-2028 for the first aircraft and mid-2029 for the second. This is the most detailed aircraft-by-aircraft schedule reported in the sources cited here. GAO-26-108457 |
| U.S. Air Force, May 1, 2026 | The Air Force said the Bridge effort helped accelerate Boeing’s estimated deliveries by a year from an updated schedule and described the VC-25Bs as expected in 2028. It did not provide the same aircraft-by-aircraft dates as the GAO account. Air Force release |
| Boeing, as reported by Reuters on July 21, 2026 | Boeing Defense CEO Steve Parker said the company remained on track to deliver two aircraft in 2028. This is Boeing’s stated target, not an independently confirmed handover date. Reuters report republished by Air Force Times |
The dates should not be flattened into a promise that both aircraft will arrive in 2028. The GAO’s account gives the first and second aircraft different projected dates, while the later public statements describe the schedule more generally.
Why is the VC-25B program delayed?
Public reporting points to multiple pressures, but does not establish a complete independent root-cause analysis of the delay. Boeing’s Parker cited remaining wiring and structural work, along with certification, as areas where the company expected further cost growth. Reuters reported that first-aircraft testing was expected to begin the following year, in 2027. Reuters report republished by Air Force Times
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Air Force Times reported that Boeing attributed a $280 million VC-25B program loss in the second quarter of 2026 to additional production and certification resources. The outlet also reported setbacks involving shortages of workers with the required security clearances and supply-chain issues. Those are reported contributors, not a comprehensive or independently established explanation for every schedule change. Air Force Times, July 29, 2026
The $280 million figure is a quarterly program loss reported for Boeing’s second quarter of 2026. It is not the total cost of the aircraft or the program. The sources describe different cost measures and contract changes, so the figure should not be treated as a final program bill.
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What is the Air Force One Bridge aircraft?
The Bridge is a separate, interim aircraft: a modified Boeing 747-8i that originated in Qatar. The Air Force said it arrived at the Presidential Airlift Group on June 19, 2026, and would begin commissioning flights. The service described the aircraft as interim capacity intended to ease pressure on the aging VC-25A fleet while Boeing completes the long-term VC-25B replacements. U.S. Air Force, June 19, 2026
The Air Force identifies L3Harris as the Bridge aircraft’s modifier and says Boeing supplied engineering data for structural changes. Public descriptions do not establish a full technical comparison of its capabilities with either the existing VC-25As or the planned VC-25Bs.
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What happens before the Bridge can fly presidential missions?
Arrival at the Presidential Airlift Group is not the same as immediate availability for presidential missions. The Air Force says commissioning flights validate mission capability and finalize the protocols needed before the aircraft is available for those missions. The service also says aircraft assigned the Air Force One call sign must meet rigorous security requirements. U.S. Air Force, June 19, 2026
Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink said the priority was “the safety and security of the commander in chief.” The service’s public explanation describes the commissioning purpose, but does not disclose enough detail to rank the Bridge, VC-25A and VC-25B by classified capability.
What happens to the current Air Force One fleet?
The two VC-25As remain in the fleet until the Boeing replacements enter service, according to the Associated Press. An Air Force spokesperson told the AP that the Presidential Airlift Group selects aircraft for missions based on operational requirements; the aircraft used for a particular trip is not determined by a public fixed rotation. Associated Press, June 19, 2026
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