The Air Force yesterday awarded Boeing a $125 million contract modification to purchase initial long-lead spare parts for two, fully mission-capable VC-25B aircraft planned to replace the aging Air Force One fleet.

About $42 million was obligated at the time of the award from fiscal year 2026 research, development, test and evaluation dollars, the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center wrote in the contract announcement.

Altogether, yesterday’s award brings the program's total value to about $4.45 billion.

Boeing was contracted to deliver two heavily modified VC-25B jets by 2024 -- an effort intended to swiftly replace the now 35-year-old VC-25A platforms which officials say lack some needed mission requirements and other upgraded capabilities.

But delays stemming, in part, by covid-era supply chain issues along with other developmental problems have plagued the program and caused Boeing to absorb more than $2 billion in losses.

New projections schedule initial delivery for mid-2028.

In FY-27, the Air Force is requesting about $532 million to continue VC-25B engineering, manufacturing and development tasks, $23.3 million for government ground and flight test or evaluation activities, $122.7 million for an upgraded communications suite and $34.2 million for initial spare and repair parts, according to recently released documents.

The Air Force has also paid an undisclosed amount to L3Harris to modify a Boeing 747-8i jet intended to serve as a temporary “VC-25B Bridge" aircraft until the actual program is ready to be fielded. That jet, originally donated by Qatar, is expected to start flying this summer, the service said last week.