Trump's use of older Air Force One sparks questions over new jet's defensive capabilities

Questions are swirling around U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to travel on an older Air Force One model instead of a newer one provided by Qatar for his return trip from the NATO summit in Turkey. The incident has fueled concerns that the new aircraft might have been deployed without adequate safety and defensive capabilities.

According to The New York Times, Trump traveled from Ankara, Turkey, to Mildenhall, England, on the older Air Force One before switching to the newer model for the final leg to Washington. The new aircraft, a Boeing 747-8 provided by Qatar last year, was rapidly modified by defense contractor L3Harris Technologies to serve as an interim presidential plane while Boeing faces delays in delivering its next-generation Air Force One. This trip marked the new aircraft's first international deployment.

Trump himself addressed the situation on his social media platform, Truth Social, stating, "For old times' sake, we are going to go from Turkey to Mildenhall on the old Air Force One." He later told reporters that his decision was influenced by the perceived threat from Iran, declaring, "As you know, the life of a president is a very dangerous one, and I am number one on the assassination list of Iran." The distance between Ankara and Iran is roughly 1,000 kilometers, placing it within the range of Iranian missiles.

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For old times' sake, we are going to go from Turkey to Mildenhall on the old Air Force One.

However, some sources suggest the reason for not using the new Air Force One was its lack of essential defensive systems. Individuals familiar with the new aircraft told The New York Times that it does not possess all the capabilities of the older model. They indicated that the switch was a precautionary measure based on Secret Service recommendations, rather than a direct response to an immediate threat. The older Air Force One is equipped with advanced defensive systems designed to evade missile attacks and protect against electromagnetic pulses (EMP) from nuclear explosions. The newer model, modified under a tight schedule and at a lower cost of approximately $400 million (about 600 billion won) compared to the estimated $1 billion (1.5 trillion won) and two-year timeframe typically required for such structural modifications, is feared to be incomplete.

An official involved in the previous administration's Air Force One program, Andrew Hunter, told The New York Times that the one-year modification period would likely only allow for communication equipment upgrades, not the extensive structural changes required for the presidential aircraft. The White House, however, defended the new aircraft, stating it is a state-of-the-art plane with a high level of security to protect the president and his staff.

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As you know, the life of a president is a very dangerous one, and I am number one on the assassination list of Iran.