Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James announced Wednesday that Boeing will develop the next generation Air Force One.
Boeing’s 747-8 model beat French competitor Airbus’s A380 model for the selection, announced in an official “Determinations and Findings” document Wednesday. The determination means the award goes to Boeing without a full and open competition.
“The current fleet of VC-25 presidential aircraft has performed exceptionally well, a testament to the airmen who support, maintain and fly the aircraft,” James said. “Yet, it is time to upgrade. Parts obsolescence, diminishing manufacturing sources and increased down times for maintenance are existing challenges that will increase until a new aircraft is fielded,” she said in a statement Wednesday.
The announcement was not a contract award. The government now must develop terms of a contract with Boeing to create a new presidential aircraft that meets the Air Force’s requirements, James said.
