Air Force asks Boeing for prototype avionics for upgrade of Air Force One aircraft

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., 30 March 2015. Special aircraft experts at the Boeing Co., are moving forward with a project to upgrade important avionics subsystems aboard the nation's two VC-25A presidential transport aircraft, which when in operation are known as Air Force One.

Officials of the U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., have announced a $52.8 million contract modification to Boeing Aerospace Operations Inc. in Oklahoma City, Okla., for the second phase of the VC-25A Avionics Modernization Program (AMP) to upgrade systems aboard the Air Force One aircraft.

The VC-25A air transport fleet consists of two specially configured Boeing 747-200B jumbo jets configured to transport the U.S. president to destinations around the world. The aircraft must maintain 100 percent reliability and safe, unrestricted global access to civil and military airfields.

This contract modification, announced earlier this month, is for U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-approved avionics modification engineering services to build, install, and test one prototype, Air Force officials say.

The AMP upgrades involve enhanced pilot awareness by incorporating several subsystems to increase the utility and safety of the VC-25A. The design service life of the VC-25A is about 30 years, with an average of about five years remaining. The AMP modifications are to help extend that jumbo jet's service life.

Related: Boeing undertakes major avionics upgrades to extend life spans of Air Force One aircraft

The VC-25 aircraft has cutting-edge navigation, electronic, and communications equipment that include multi-frequency radios for air-to-air, air-to-ground, and satellite communications. For self-defense, the VC-25 is equipped with advanced electronic countermeasures and anti-missile flares.

The aircraft has a presidential suite beneath the cockpit with stateroom, dressing room, lavatory, and shower, including an office for the president. The plane also has a conference and dining room, and accommodations for guests, senior staff, Secret Service, Air Force security personnel, and news media. The aircraft's two galleys can provide up to 100 meals at a time.

Air Force leaders say they expect start replacing the VC-25 fleet in 2019, most likely with the Boeing 747-8i. On this contract Boeing will do the work in Oklahoma City, Okla., and should be finished by May 2018. Boeing Aerospace Operations is part of the Boeing Defense, Space & Security segment.

For more information contact Boeing Defense, Space & Security online at www.boeing.com/boeing/bds, or the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at www.wpafb.af.mil/aflcmc.