Members of the official departure party take their positions prior to the departure of Air Force One from Joint Base Andrews, Md., on Nov. 20. Air Force photo by SSgt. Kenny Holston.
The Air Force office in charge of buying the next Air Force One has expanded its portfolio to take over the recapitalization of three more executive aircraft and the sustainment of eight total VIP and special mission aircraft.
Air Force Materiel Command’s Presidential Airlift Recapitalization Directorate is now the Presidential and Executive Airlift Directorate, which now oversees not just the purchase of the VC-25B replacement—the current Air Force One—but also the replacement of the E-4B National Airborne Operations Center, the US Navy’s E-6B Airborne Command Post, and the C-32A executive aircraft, with analysis of alternatives for these aircraft expected to finish in late 2019, according to an AFMC release.
The directorate is also overseeing the heavy maintenance of two VC-25As, with delivery expected next August and the interior refurbishment of the C-32 fleet, according to AFMC.
Additionally, the directorate recently took over life cycle management of the VC-25A, C-12, C-21, C-32, C-37, C-40, and E-4B from the Mobility and Training Aircraft Directorate, according to the release.
The Air Force in July awarded Boeing a $3.9 billion contract for the design, modification, testing, certification, and fielding of two 747-8is.