US President Donald Trump plans to use the Boeing 747-8 donated by Qatar for a visit to Ireland later in September, despite continuing questions over the aircraft’s defensive capabilities, according to CNN.
The aircraft, estimated to be worth around $400 million, has already operated as Air Force One on domestic flights and carried Trump to Türkiye in July. During that trip, the president reportedly left the country aboard another aircraft because of security concerns.
Sources cited by CNN have offered conflicting assessments of the aircraft’s capabilities. Two said it lacks some of the systems fitted to the older VC-25A presidential aircraft, while another said it carries many of the same features.
Trump acknowledged that further work is required before the aircraft can operate in all threat environments. He said the 747 already possessed extensive equipment but would need around 60 days to be “maxed out”.
The aircraft is considered safe for travel to non-hostile countries such as Ireland, according to a senior White House official. Additional security modifications are scheduled to begin in October.
Trump has said the aircraft will eventually be transferred to his presidential museum after he leaves office. Critics continue to raise concerns about the gift’s security implications, conversion costs and potential conflicts of interest.
Source: CNN.