The American Air Force has been asked to find a way to quickly upgrade a luxury jet that has been accepted as a gift from Qatar, because it is used as the new Air Force to transport President Donald Trump.
The Boeing 747 Jetliner, so luxurious that it is known as the Flying Palace, was accepted by Minister of Defense Pete Hegseeth after the president visited the country last week.
Qatari officials initially denied that the jet was gifted and instead called it a “possible transfer of an aircraft for temporary use such as Air Force One”.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said that the Ministry of Defense will “work to ensure that the correct security measures and functional mission requirements are considered.”
Democrats have estimated that it would cost more than $ US1billlion ($ 1.55 billion) to convert the plane into Air Force One Standards and have tried to block the transfer.
Legal experts have also questioned the scope of the laws with regard to gifts of foreign governments aimed at thwarting corruption and incorrect influence.
“Today marks a dark day in history: the president of the United States of America has officially accepted the greatest bribery of a foreign government in American history,” said Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer.
The “unprecedented action is a spot at the presidency’s office and cannot remain unanswered,” he added.
Trump also removed ethical concerns and said that it would be “stupid” not to accept the 747-8 Jet.
Donald Trump talks to Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad al Thani. ((Reuters: Brian Snyder))
Trump has rejected concern and said it would be “stupid” not to accept the jet.
The afterwards of the 13-year-old aircraft, requires considerable security upgrades, communication improvements to prevent spies listening and the possibility of warding incoming rockets, experts say.
The aircraft may need jet Jag escorts and can be limited to flies in the US, unless expensive security upgrades were made, said air experts and sources from the industry earlier.
Democratic senator Tammy Duckworth said that the United States has two fully operational air force one jets and do not have to be to find out the Qatari aircraft afterwards.
The Pentagon did not say how much it will cost or how long it will take.
The costs can be considerable, given the costs of the current efforts of Boeing to build two new Air Force One aircraft, is more than $ US5 billion.
The current Air Force One aircraft were hired in 1990.
The Air Force One program has confronted with chronic delays over the past decade, with the delivery of two new 747-8s planned for 2027, three years behind the previous schedule.
Trump visited the Qatari Boeing aircraft in February at an airport of Florida.
This week, CNN reported that the Trump government was approaching Qatar for the first time to ask about the acquisition of a Boeing 747 that could be used as Air Force One.
Trump said that Qatar had made his hand and had offered the jet as a ‘gift’.
ABC/wires
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