Story perspectives

Trump Unveils Delayed $5B VC-25B Jet, Critics Fume

6/24/2026

Summary

Trump Unveils VC-25B

President Donald Trump unveiled 747-8 VC-25B “Bridge” aircraft at Andrews, Maryland, on June 19, 2026.
The Air Force began commissioning flights week to evaluate the jet’s safety and presidential capability.
L3Harris spent $1 billion over 10 months to retrofit the Qatar-gifted 747-8 with classified communications and new wiring.
The VC-25B program now exceeds $5 billion and delivery is delayed to 2028.
Critics claim the program’s funding was diverted from the Sentinel missile project.

Summary

VC-25B Preps

The VC-25B Bridge will act as a command post while Air Force upgrades its VC-25A fleet and readies the VC-25B for 2028.
It can fly 7,730 nautical miles at 660 mph, is powered by GEnx-2B67 engines and has a conference room.
Crew training, which began in October 2025 with a leased Atlas Air 747-8F, was said by L3Harris CEO Christopher Kubasik to prove the U.S. defense industrial base can move at speed.

Summary

VC-25B Enhances Mobility

Defense officials say the interim VC-25B reduces the risk of a mobility gap if the aging VC-25A fleet suffers failures.
The deployment backs the Pentagon’s push to refresh legacy aircraft amid rising geopolitical tensions.
Keeping the two VC-25A jets as backup assets provides redundancy while the new platform is certified.
The 747-8’s better fuel efficiency and longer range enable flexible routing, lessening reliance on foreign refueling stops.

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Trump Unveils VC-25B

President Donald Trump unveiled 747-8 VC-25B “Bridge” aircraft at Andrews, Maryland, on June 19, 2026.
The Air Force began commissioning flights week to evaluate the jet’s safety and presidential capability.
L3Harris spent $1 billion over 10 months to retrofit the Qatar-gifted 747-8 with classified communications and new wiring.
The VC-25B program now exceeds $5 billion and delivery is delayed to 2028.
Critics claim the program’s funding was diverted from the Sentinel missile project.

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