Saed News: The U.S. Secretary of the Air Force told lawmakers that the cost of modifying the luxury Qatari airplane, which Donald Trump claimed to have received as a gift from Qatar and is intended for use as Air Force One, will likely be less than \$400 million.
According to Saed News quoting ISNA, Troy Minck, the U.S. Secretary of the Air Force, strongly criticized comments made by Democrat Representative Joe Courtney regarding the cost of the Qatari airplane during a hearing before the country's Armed Services Committee, stating, “The cost of modifying this aircraft is less than $400 million.”
According to CNN, Joe Courtney had said, “You cannot rebuild an aircraft that was designed for a different purpose and claim it’s a free plane. The Qatari airplane requires encrypted communications technology, robust defenses, and countermeasures. It is clear this will reduce the Air Force’s budget.”
Troy Minck did not discuss details about how the aircraft needs to be reinforced and noted that much of this information is classified. However, he said estimates exceeding $1 billion are exaggerated and unrealistic, and “We believe the actual modification cost will probably be less than $400 million.”
Last month, the Pentagon announced that Pete Hegseth, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, had accepted the Qatari Boeing 747, and Trump is expected to use this airplane after its modifications.
The Qatari airplane is currently parked in a hangar in San Antonio, awaiting optimization.
