This article summarizes reporting by CBS News by Kaia Hubbard, with additional reporting from the Associated Press and Military Times.

U.S. President Donald Trump completed his inaugural flight aboard a retrofitted Boeing 747-8 on July 1, 2026, utilizing an aircraft gifted to the United States by the Qatari government as a temporary Air Force One. The flight departed Joint Base Andrews in Maryland for Bismarck Municipal Airport in North Dakota, marking the operational debut of the interim presidential transport.

The introduction of the Qatari-donated aircraft serves as a bridge for the United States Air Force (USAF) executive airlift fleet. The permanent replacement program, designated VC-25B, is currently running four years behind schedule, with Boeing now expected to deliver the new jets in 2028. According to reporting by CBS News, the interim Boeing 747-8 allows the administration to supplement the aging VC-25A fleet, which consists of heavily modified Boeing 747-200 aircraft that are approximately 35 years old.

Aircraft modifications and new livery

The Qatari government gifted the luxury Boeing 747-8, valued at an estimated $400 million, to the United States in 2025. Following the transfer, the USAF spent just under $400 million to install necessary secure communications and defensive systems. While the original aircraft featured a highly customized VIP interior, military officials noted that the retrofitting process prioritized operational readiness. The interior layout remains minimally changed from its original luxury configuration.

Externally, the aircraft introduces a significant departure from the traditional light blue and white design that has characterized presidential aircraft for decades. The interim Air Force One sports a navy blue belly accented with red and gold stripes. The Associated Press reported that this specific color scheme aligns with design preferences Trump advocated for during his first term in office.

Prior to the July 1 flight, the USAF conducted a series of commissioning flights to validate the aircraft’s mission capability and finalize safety protocols. Military Times reported that these test flights were completed in late June 2026, clearing the jet for active presidential service.

Bridging the gap to the VC-25B

The necessity for an interim aircraft stems from ongoing delays in the VC-25B program. The U.S. government initially signed a contract with Boeing in 2018 for two new heavily modified Boeing 747-8 aircraft to replace the legacy VC-25A fleet. The manufacturer has faced persistent supply chain disruptions and a shortage of appropriately cleared personnel, pushing the delivery timeline to 2028.

Speaking about the interim aircraft, President Trump highlighted the unique nature of the acquisition. He described the Boeing 747-8 as potentially the greatest commercial plane ever built and acknowledged the Qatari government’s role in providing the jet. The president utilized the aircraft to travel to North Dakota for an event at the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations.

AirPro News analysis

The integration of a foreign-gifted aircraft into the highly secure presidential airlift fleet represents an unprecedented procurement path for the USAF. We view the rapid commissioning of this Boeing 747-8 as a pragmatic response to the severe delays plaguing the VC-25B program. By accepting and modifying an existing airframe, the military has effectively mitigated the operational risks associated with relying exclusively on the 35-year-old VC-25A fleet for another two years.

The decision to leave the luxury interior largely intact suggests a compromise between rapid deployment and standard military specifications. While the necessary secure communications and defensive countermeasures are in place, the non-standard interior and unique exterior livery will make this specific airframe a distinct, albeit temporary, chapter in the history of presidential aviation.

Sources: CBS News

Saab AB has finalized a SEK 24.6 billion contracts with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) to manufacture and deliver 16 Saab Gripen E fighter aircraft destined for the Ukrainian Air Force.

The agreement, signed on June 30, 2026, formalizes a bilateral defense commitment between Sweden and Ukraine and schedules aircraft deliveries for the 2029 to 2030 timeframe, according to a press release issued by the manufacturers.

Contract details and delivery timeline

The orders, valued at approximately $2.5 billion USD, includes the 16 airframes alongside spare parts and associated support equipment. Saab stated it will officially book the order in the third quarter of 2026. Manufacturing and initial deliveries will take place in Sweden, with the FMV receiving the aircraft before their subsequent transfer to Ukraine.

The Saab Gripen E is designed for operational resilience and dispersed operations. The Military-Aircraft can take off and land on short stretches of public roads or temporary runways. This capability aligns with the operational requirements of the Ukrainian Air Force amid ongoing threats to traditional airbase infrastructure.

Saab President and CEO Micael Johansson stated the agreement will provide a critical capability upgrade for the operator.

“I am deeply proud that Sweden and Saab can now enable the provision of Gripen E to Ukraine, bringing a world-class fighter that will transform the Ukrainian Air Force’s capability. This will significantly strengthen Ukraine’s air defence and help ensure the nation can protect its people and safeguard its future,” Johansson said.

Bilateral defense agreements and interim capabilities

The formal contract follows a May 28, 2026, announcement made in Uppsala, Sweden. During that meeting, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy outlined a broader air defense cooperation plan between the two nations.

Ukraine initially stated its intent to acquire up to 20 Saab Gripen E/F aircraft, of which 16 are now firmly contracted. To provide an interim capability boost while the newly ordered Gripen E models are manufactured, the Swedish government previously announced its intent to donate 16 older Saab Gripen C/D aircraft to Ukraine.

AirPro News analysis

The formalization of the Saab Gripen E contract represents a major shift in Western defense procurement for Ukraine, moving from the donation of legacy airframes to the direct commissioning of newly manufactured, advanced fighter aircraft. We view the 2029 to 2030 delivery window as an indicator that European defense planners are structuring support for the Ukrainian Air Force as a long-term modernization effort rather than strictly an immediate wartime stopgap. The Gripen E’s specific design parameters, particularly its low maintenance footprint and ability to conduct dispersed operations from austere locations, make it uniquely suited to the threat environment in Eastern Europe.

Sources: Saab AB

Pratt & Whitney announced on June 30, 2026, that its F119 engine fleet has surpassed one million cumulative flight hours, marking a major operational milestone for the propulsion system that powers the United States Air Force Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor.

The milestone, announced from the manufacturers East Hartford, Connecticut headquarters, underscores the long-term viability of the world’s first fifth-generation fighter engine. With the final production F119 delivered in 2013, the focus has shifted entirely to sustainment and modernization to keep the F-22 fleet combat-ready.

Sustainment and fleet readiness

The achievement follows a major sustainment agreement secured on February 20, 2025, when Pratt & Whitney, an RTX business, was awarded a three-year contract valued at up to $1.5 billion to support the F119 fleet. The contract covers maintenance and modernization for more than 400 engines currently in service.

To maintain the engines decades after production ceased, Pratt & Whitney utilizes Model-Based Systems Engineering and a Usage-Based Lifing program. These initiatives are designed to lower lifecycle costs, improve readiness rates, and implement engine control schedule updates, ensuring the F-22 remains operationally viable for the United States Air-Forces (USAF).

Technological legacy and operational history

The F-22 Raptor entered operational service with the USAF on May 12, 2005. Each aircraft is powered by two F119 engines, which feature a unique thrust-vectoring nozzle. This design enables supercruise, allowing the aircraft to sustain supersonic speeds without engaging afterburners.

The technological foundation established by the F119 directly informed the development of the Pratt & Whitney F135 engine, which currently powers the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II.

“Having powered the F-22 Raptor since it launched over 20 years ago, the engine continues to provide unmatched capability, safety and readiness rates,” said Jill Albertelli, President of Military Engines for Pratt & Whitney. “This milestone demonstrates Pratt & Whitney’s commitment to delivering for our customers.”

AirPro News analysis

Reaching one million flight hours on a closed-production engine line highlights the critical role of predictive maintenance and usage-based lifing in modern military aviation. Because the USAF cannot simply procure new F119 engines to replace aging units, the $1.5 billion sustainment contract awarded in 2025 is essential for maintaining the air superiority mission of the F-22.

We view the continued investment in F119 modernization as a clear indicator that the F-22 will remain a cornerstone of USAF operations well into the next decade, even as next-generation air dominance platforms are developed and fielded.

Sources: RTX (Pratt & Whitney)