Trump says Air Force One to receive additional security upgrades

U.S. President Donald Trump said a Boeing 747-8 aircraft gifted by Qatar and being used temporarily as Air Force One will receive additional security upgrades later this year.

Trump’s comments appeared to acknowledge that the retrofitted aircraft, which he began using earlier this month, may not yet include all of the defensive systems and capabilities available on the previous presidential aircraft, Bloomberg reports.

"It has a lot of capability but, as I understand it, in about a month or so, they’re going to send it to have it be maxed out," Trump told reporters on July 19 after returning to Washington from New Jersey. "They’ll have it be maxed out. It’ll take about a month."

The president’s use of the older Air Force One during a recent NATO summit in Turkey, where he boarded the aircraft for a flight to the United Kingdom, drew attention to the transition process.

The Trump administration has faced questions over the capabilities of the Qatar-provided aircraft and has pushed back against reports examining potential security limitations. The administration has also sought testimony from The New York Times reporters over a story related to the issue, though the newspaper has refused to allow its journalists to appear before a federal grand jury.

The Boeing 747-8 was provided by Qatar as a temporary replacement aircraft while the U.S. prepares to introduce a new generation of Air Force One planes, which are expected to enter service in the future.

By Sabina Mammadli