Boeing and Elon Musk Collaborate to Expedite Air Force One Replacements
A momentous event unfolded at the Commander-In-Chief inaugural ball in Washington, DC, as First Lady Melania Trump chuckled in amusement while President Donald Trump wielded a saber to slice into a cake replica of the new Air Force One design. The jovial scene belied a pressing issue: the delayed and overbudget Air Force One replacements. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg disclosed on Tuesday that the aerospace giant is teaming up with Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk to streamline the delivery process of the new Air Force One aircraft.
The current Air Force One replacements, two Boeing 747s, have exceeded their budget by more than $2 billion and are years behind schedule. Boeing attributes these setbacks to design alterations, labor limitations, and supply chain disruptions. President Trump, who secured the deal for the new aircraft during his first term, had initially threatened to cancel the order due to exorbitant costs before assuming office in 2017.
In a recent interview with CNBC’s Phil Lebeau on “Squawk on the Street,” Ortberg revealed that Boeing has been collaborating with Musk to identify cost-saving measures and accelerate the aircraft’s delivery timeline. Despite these efforts, it remains uncertain whether the new Air Force One planes will be ready before the end of Trump’s current presidential term. An Air Force spokesperson informed CNBC that an updated delivery schedule from Boeing is anticipated in the coming spring.
During the inauguration ball, President Trump symbolically inaugurated the new Air Force One paint scheme by cutting a cake featuring a model of the aircraft with a sword—a gesture that captured the attention of onlookers and underscored the significance of the project.
Musk’s involvement in expediting the Air Force One program comes amid his close ties with President Trump. As the head of SpaceX, a competitor to Boeing’s space division, Musk has been actively collaborating with the administration. Notably, he leads a commission tasked with curbing government expenses, aligning with Trump’s agenda of fiscal responsibility.
Ortberg emphasized the urgency of accelerating the Air Force One project, stating, “The president wants those planes sooner so we’re working with Elon to see what can we do to pull up the schedule of those programs.” Boeing’s recent financial report reflected the challenges faced by the defense and space unit, including a $1.7 billion pretax charge related to the Air Force One initiative. In response to these developments, Ortberg assumed the position of CEO in August and appointed an interim leader for the defense and space segment in September.
As Boeing and Elon Musk join forces to hasten the delivery of Air Force One replacements, the collaboration between two industry giants signals a concerted effort to overcome obstacles and meet critical national security priorities. The outcome of this partnership holds significant implications for the aerospace sector and sets the stage for innovative solutions to complex challenges in the realm of defense technology and procurement.
