Two already built Boeing jets to become next-gen Air Force One

The United States Air Force (USAF) announced last Friday that two Boeing 747-8s, which were originally destined for the now bankrupt Russian carrier Transaero, have been purchased with a view to using them to replace the aging VC-25 aircraft which entered service back in 1990.
According to Air Force spokesperson Ann Stefanek, “The Air Force awarded a contract modification to Boeing on Aug. 4, 2017, to purchase two commercial 747-8 aircraft for future modification to replace the two aging VC-25A Presidential support aircraft.”
The two planes have already been flight tested, but Boeing has confirmed that they never left the United States. Currently they are in a storage yard in Victorville, California.
Darlene Costello, the principal deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, confirmed in a statement that: “This award is a significant step towards ensuring an overall affordable program.”
Clearly the purchase of two existing planes is an attempt to reduce the cost, but the planes will both require considerable modification before they become fit for purpose. As a consequence, they are unlikely to be mission ready before 2024. According to the USAF, “Modifications to the aircraft will include incorporating a mission communications system, electrical power upgrades, a medical facility, an executive interior, a self-defense system, and autonomous ground operations capabilities.”
The cost of the award has not been revealed by Boeing, citing commercial sensitivity as the reason.