The Pentagon started a program today to develop and buy replacement Air Force One aircraft for presidential use after 2022, according to an official and a summary of the authorization memo.
Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition Frank Kendall has signed an “acquisition decision” memo which authorizes the Air Force to set up an office for the replacement program, which includes new Marine One helicopters available for use no earlier than 2020.
The first phase of the program will focus on completing a market analysis and assessment of performance requirements for the presidential transports, according to a defense official who spoke on the condition he not be identified since the decision memo hasn’t been released. These will be reviewed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff formal requirements board.
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The Pentagon has budgeted $757 million through 2017 for the first phase of the Air Force One replacement and $1.84 billion for the helicopter replacement through 2017 and most of the money would be spent after fiscal 2015, the official said.
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ANCFlyer wrote:It'll be cool to see a B747-8i in USAF Executive livery.
Queso wrote:Don't count on it. The way things are going in our country, Airbus might bid an A380 and win, then the decision will be appealed, the specifications changed, and Boeing will win with a 767 or 787 proposal promised to be built in Kentucky, but actual major subassemblies built overseas, mostly in China.
Queso wrote:ANCFlyer wrote:It'll be cool to see a B747-8i in USAF Executive livery.
Don't count on it. The way things are going in our country, Airbus might bid an A380 and win, then the decision will be appealed, the specifications changed, and Boeing will win with a 767 or 787 proposal promised to be built in Kentucky, but actual major subassemblies built overseas, mostly in China.
