The Air Force is working with the White House Office of Military Requirements to adjust what is needed in the next-generation Air Force One. Air Mobility Command chief Gen. Carlton Everhart said he had a “very interesting conversation” with then-President elect Donald Trump at his resort in Mar-a-Lago, Fla., where he raised his concerns about the cost of the next Air Force One. The meeting helped the Air Force “understand a little bit of the perspective of what our Commander in Chief desires,” Everhart told reporters at AWS17. The White House Office of Military Requirements also is working with other groups, such as the Secret Service, to outline what is needed for the aircraft, then USAF will go back to programming the acquisition phase, Everhart said. President Trump “knows airplanes” and has been very interested in the program, Everhart said. The Air Force has so far awarded about $170 million for risk reduction on the program, with plans to field at least two modified 747-8 jets in 2024.
As the Air Force readied for its June 21-22 strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, the service was also putting its Agile Combat Employment strategy into action, dispersing combat aircraft and Airmen from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar in preparation for a possible Iranian retaliatory attack. Some defense experts say…
