The US Air Force awarded Boeing a $600 million contract to begin preliminary design work to modify two 747-8s to replace the Air Force One fleet, the service announces on 13 September.
The contract modification includes incorporating the new presidential aircraft’s mission communication system, electrical power upgrades, a medical facility, executive interior, self-defense system, and autonomous ground operations capabilities onto two Boeing 747-8s.
The USAF will replace two 747-200-based VC-25As delivered in 1991 with two 747-8s originally built for Russian carrier Transaero, which filed for bankruptcy in 2015 before it could take delivery.
Though that move has been touted by the White House as a cost-saving measure, the USAF and Boeing will continue looking for ways to shed costs during the preliminary design phase.
"Following the award of the contract to purchase two commercial 747-8 aircraft, this contract award is the next major step forward toward ensuring an overall affordable program," says presidential airlift recapitalisation programme executive officer, Maj Gen Duke Richardson, in a statement this week.
The USAF expects to award the engineering, manufacturing and development contract by summer of 2018. The contract will lead the programme through aircraft modification, test and delivery.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
