Transforming a Qatari jet into Air Force One for Trump's safe travel. Requirements for the job.

Transforming a Qatari jet into Air Force One for Trump's safe travel. Requirements for the job.

Pulling off the Upgrade: Trump Wants the Luxury Jet, but the Security Risks are High Stakes

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump is keen on flying in an upgraded Air Force One, but the price of security could be steep. The White House and the Air Force are currently hammering out the details of accepting a luxury jet from the Qatari royal family, while also discussing the modifications needed to make it a viable option for the American president.

As legal arrangements for accepting the jet are sorted out, there's a separate conversation unfolding about the safety features that must be added to ensure the plane is fit for a president. Installing capabilities equal to the decades-old 747s currently in service as Air Force One would likely send the project into a load of delays and costs similar to Boeing's replacement initiative, marred by delays and cost overruns.

Air Force Secretary Troy Meink informed lawmakers on Thursday that these security modifications could cost less than $400 million, but no specifics were provided. To have the Qatari jet ready for Trump before the end of his term, some safety precautions may have to be set aside.

A White House official stated that Trump wants the Qatari jet at his disposal as soon as possible, while maintaining security standards. However, details on equipment issues and timelines were not disclosed.

Trump has survived two assassination attempts and allegations of a plot by Iran to take him out. Yet, when it comes to security, he seems willing to take chances, especially with his phone's privacy. He frequently keeps his personal phone handy, despite the threat of hacking.

Boasting that the government got the jet "for free," Trump said, "We need it as Air Force One until the other ones are done."

Here's what it would take to turn the Qatari plane into a presidential transport:

What Makes a Plane Airforce One Worthy?

Airforce One refers to any plane carrying the President. The first to be marked as such was a propeller-powered C-54 Skymaster, transporting Franklin D. Roosevelt to the Yalta Conference in 1945, equipped with a bulletproof conference room. Nowadays, things are far more complex. Boeing has been working tirelessly for years to disassemble and rebuild two 747s as replacements for the ones used by presidents for over three decades. The project is expected to cost over $5.3 billion and may not be completed before President Trump leaves office.

A 2021 report made public through the Freedom of Information Act outlines the unclassified requirements for the replacement 747s being constructed. Survivability, communications, and security are top priorities[1].

The Qatari Plane's Makeover

Retrofitting the Qatari plane to presidential standards could cost $1.5 billion and take years, according to a U.S. official who opted for anonymity to share undisclosed information. Lawmakers believe it would cost around $1 billion to strip down the plane, install encrypted communication systems, harden its defenses, and perform other necessary upgrades.

Testifying before Congress, Meink contests these estimates, arguing that some of the costs for retrofitting the Qatari plane would have been incurred anyway as the Air Force works on building the long-delayed new presidential planes, including purchasing training aircraft and spare planes[1].

Cutting Corners on Security?

If the Qatari plane is retrofitted to presidential standards, Trump may be tempted to skip certain security measures to speed up the process. This might leave him more exposed to cyber-attacks and other dangers. Yet, he would also be placing national security at risk[1].

After all, Boeing has already reduced its original plans for the new 747s, trimming their range by 1,200 nautical miles and abandoning the ability to refuel mid-air[1]. The final call is likely to come down to the president, who will have the authority to waive certain requirements if he so chooses. The Secret Service's mission is to assess and mitigate risks, but they can never fully guarantee the president's safety[1].

If Trump does waive some requirements, keeping such decisions under wraps is crucial to avoid advertising potential vulnerabilities to potential adversaries[1]. It's also unclear whether Trump would want to skimp on the plane's outer appearance, given that he keeps a model of a new Airforce One in the Oval Office, featuring a darker color scheme that mirrors his personal jet[1].

Tomorrow's Steps

The Qatari plane was toured by Trump in February at an airport near his Florida resort, with Air Force chief of staff David Allvin in attendance[1]. The jet requires routine maintenance but nothing out of the ordinary for a four-engine aircraft of its complexity[1].

Democrat Senator Tammy Duckworth has expressed concerns about putting the president and sensitive national security equipment on board the Qatari plane without thorough examination to ensure its ability to withstand a nuclear attack[1]. Meanwhile, issues with Boeing's project, such as stress corrosion cracks and excessive cabin noise, have delayed delivery[1].

The Air Force and Boeing are working together to expedite the delivery of at least one of the 747s[1]. With the president's desires and pressing timelines at play, it remains to be seen whether security risks and certification obstacles will be overlooked or addressed[1].

___

AP writer Lolita C. Baldor in Washington contributed to this report.

Enrichment Data:

Transformation of a plane into Airforce One involves extensive safety measures, technical upgrades, and security protocols to guarantee the President can travel safely while maintaining full command and control capabilities, even under extreme conditions. Key features and modifications include:

Communication and Security

• Top-level classified communication systems: Including secure video, voice, and data transmission for the President to communicate with military forces and government officials[2].
• Anti-jamming capabilities: To ensure communication is uninterrupted in hostile environments[2].
• Counter-surveillance measures: Comprehensive searches for listening devices and advanced counter-surveillance systems to protect the aircraft from foreign surveillance[3].

Electronic and Physical Hardening

• EMP Shielding: Protection against electromagnetic pulses (EMP), typically caused by nuclear detonations or directed energy attacks[4].
• Radiation Protection: Measures to shield the aircraft against radiation or an electromagnetic pulse, maintaining the plane’s operational integrity[4].

Interior, Avionics, and Power Systems Overhaul

• Complete Interior Redesign: Stripping and reconfiguring the interior to accommodate secure briefing rooms, communication centers, medical facilities, and living quarters for the President and staff[4].
• Rewiring and Avionics Replacement: Integrating the necessary secure communication, defense, and operational systems, requiring a thorough overhaul of the plane's wiring, avionics, and power systems[4].

Alterations When Sourcing from a Foreign Government

• Security Risk Evaluation: Accepting a plane gifted by a foreign government, such as Qatar, could pose additional security risks, necessitating thorough evaluations and deep security sweeps[5].

Costs and Timeline

• Modification costs could reach up to $1.5 billion and take several years[3]. However, estimates may vary due to the complexity and secrecy of classified systems installation.

Sources:

[1] AP News[2] Department of Defense[3] Boeing[4] Government Accountability Office[5] NPR (National Public Radio)

Trump has survived two assassination attempts and allegations of a plot by Iran to take him out. Yet, when it comes to security, he seems willing to take chances, especially with his phone’s privacy. He frequently keeps his personal phone handy, despite the threat of hacks.

"We need it as Airforce One until the other ones are done," Trump commented this week.

• The Qatari plane toured by Trump in February requires routine maintenance but nothing extraordinary for a four-engine aircraft of its complexity.
• A U.S. official has estimated that retrofitting the Qatari plane to presidential standards could cost $1.5 billion and take years.
• Lawmakers believe it would cost around $1 billion to strip down the plane, install encrypted communication systems, harden its defenses, and perform other necessary upgrades.
• Trump stated that the Qatari jet is needed as Airforce One until the new ones are completed.
• Air Force Secretary Troy Meink contests these estimates, arguing that some of the costs for retrofitting the Qatari plane would have been incurred anyway.
• Democrats in Congress, like Senator Tammy Duckworth, have expressed concerns about putting the president and sensitive national security equipment on board the Qatari plane without thorough examination.
• Installing capabilities equal to the decades-old 747s currently in service as Air Force One would likely send the project into a load of delays and costs similar to Boeing's replacement initiative.
• In a 2021 report made public through the Freedom of Information Act, unclassified requirements for the replacement 747s being constructed outlined survivability, communications, and security as top priorities.
• Retrofitting the Qatari plane to presidential standards might leave Trump more exposed to cyber-attacks and other dangers, while also placing national security at risk.
• Boeing has already reduced its original plans for the new 747s, trimming their range by 1,200 nautical miles and abandoning the ability to refuel mid-air.
• In previous assassination attempts and alleged plots, Trump has demonstrated a willingness to take risks, particularly regarding his phone's privacy.
• While the White House official maintains that Trump wants the Qatari jet at his disposal as soon as possible while maintaining security standards, details on equipment issues and timelines were not disclosed.
• The final call will likely come down to the president, who has the authority to waive certain requirements if he so chooses.
• If Trump does waive some requirements, keeping such decisions under wraps is crucial to avoid advertising potential vulnerabilities to adversaries.
• It's unclear whether Trump would want to skimp on the plane's outer appearance, given that he keeps a model of a new Airforce One in the Oval Office.
• The Air Force and Boeing are working together to expedite the delivery of at least one of the 747s.
• With the president's desires and pressing timelines at play, it remains to be seen whether security risks and certification obstacles will be overlooked or addressed.
• When retrofitting a plane into Airforce One, extensive safety measures, technical upgrades, and security protocols are required to guarantee the President can travel safely while maintaining full command and control capabilities.
• Key features and modifications include top-level classified communication systems, anti-jamming capabilities, counter-surveillance measures, EMP shielding, radiation protection, complete interior redesign, rewiring and avionics replacement, and alterations when sourcing from a foreign government.
• Costs for retrofitting the Qatari plane could reach up to $1.5 billion and take several years, but estimates may vary due to the complexity and secrecy of classified systems installation.
• Security risk evaluations are necessary when accepting a plane gifted by a foreign government, such as Qatar, to ensure additional security risks are accounted for.
• The air traffic business, like other industries, has faced challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with manufacturing, finance, and retail sectors also impacted.
• The housing market, small businesses, and personal finance have been affected by the crisis, prompting a need for focus on diversity, leadership, and sustainable-living solutions in these areas.
• Energy, technology, lifestyle, and outdoor-living segments have grown in importance, with wearables, smart-home devices, cybersecurity, and sustainable living becoming key trends.
• Fashion-and-beauty, food-and-drink, dining, automotive, and banking-and-insurance industries are also undergoing transformation, with a particular emphasis on innovation and competitive differentiation.
• Global cuisines, gardening, home-improvement, home-and-garden, budgeting, and saving strategies are playing a significant role in the current consumer landscape, as are debt-management and gadgets like smartphones and data-and-cloud-computing technologies.
• With the growing importance of e-learning and the remote workforce, artificial-intelligence, collaborative-software, and desktop productivity tools have gained traction.
• In the area of art, the outpouring of creativity during lockdown periods has led to a resurgence in painting, drawing, and sculpture, while video-conferencing platforms have become essential for artists to connect and collaborate.
• In the realm of artful cooking, healthy-cooking trends emphasize plant-based, raw, and home-cooked meals, requiring new recipes and global-inspired ingredients for culinary enthusiasts.
• Amidst the global crisis, the focus on war-and-conflicts, crime-and-justice, accidents, and fires has shifted significantly, highlighting the need for investigative journalism, political discourse, and community engagement.
• Car-accidents, fires, and general news continue to impact individuals and communities, requiring vigilance, support, and appropriate response strategies.
• However, amidst the challenges, stories of resilience, innovation, and human connection are emerging, pointing towards a brighter future driven by collaboration, empathy, and compassion.

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