US Air Force Diverts Sentinel Missile Funds To Retrofit Qatari Boeing 747

The U.S. Air Force is reallocating surplus funds from the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile program, which has seen its costs nearly double to around $140 billion, to retrofit a Qatari Boeing 747-8 jet as the new Air Force One for President Donald Trump. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink assured lawmakers that this financial shift would not delay the Sentinel program, emphasizing it remains fully funded and on track despite previous setbacks. The Qatari jet, gifted to the U.S. and previously used by Qatar's prime minister and royal family, requires extensive modifications, including security upgrades and top-secret communications systems, with costs estimated by Meink at approximately $400 million, though some experts suggest it could reach $1 billion. The retrofit is expected to take just under a year, with L3Harris reportedly selected for the modification work. This move comes as Boeing's own replacement Air Force One 747-8s face delays pushing delivery to at least 2027, prompting the Air Force to expedite the use of the gifted aircraft. Post-modification, the jet is expected to serve as the primary Air Force One and eventually be transferred to President Trump's presidential library.