# VC-25B — Program Element 0401319F

**Program element:** 0401319F  
**Component:** U.S. Air Force  
**Appropriation:** 3600 — RDT&E, Air Force  
**Budget Activity:** 5 — System Development & Demonstration  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0401319F

## Summary

U.S. Air Force requests $555.2M in FY2027 (down from a FY2026 peak), before stepping down 94% across the five-year plan. In the FY2027 defense authorization, the House funded it in full; the Senate funded it in full; House appropriators cut 1.4% (to $547.2M). Boeing leads the industry work.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 419.6 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 594.6 |
| FY2027 | Request | 555.2 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 179.4 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 33.5 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 34.1 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 34.8 |

> Estimate types are not summed — the profile mixes actuals, enacted law, the request, and outyear projections.

## Congressional marks (FY2027)

| Stage | Marked ($M) | Change ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| Request | 555.2 | — |
| House NDAA (HASC) | 555.2 | +0.0 |
| Senate NDAA (SASC) | 555.2 | +0.0 |
| House Approps (HAC-D) | 547.2 | −8.0 |

> FY2027 NDAA authorization marks, as of 2026-07-27. Not appropriations or final law.

## Projects (1)

| Project | Title | FY2025 actual | FY2026 enacted | FY2027 request | Move |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 655250 | VC-25B | 419.6 | 594.6 | 555.2 | −7% |

> Projects are the summable leaves: the program element total is their sum, never added to it.

### Project 655250 — VC-25B

The VC-25B Program, formerly known as the Presidential Aircraft Recapitalization (PAR) Program, replaces the Presidential VC-25A fleet which faces capability gaps, rising maintenance costs, and parts obsolescence as it ages beyond 30 years. The VC-25B Program delivers two new aircraft to meet the requirements for the President to execute the duties of Head of State, Chief Executive, and Commander-in-Chief. The VC-25B Program uniquely modifies two Boeing 747-8 commercial aircraft to provide the President, staff, and guests with safe and reliable air transportation with the equivalent level of communications capability and security available in the White House. The modifications to the 747-8 aircraft include an electrical power upgrade with dual Auxiliary Power Units that are usable in flight, a mission communication system, a work and rest environment, an executive interior, military avionics, a self-defense system, independent enplaning and deplaning, and independent baggage loading. No significant changes to the existing VC-25A Concept of Operations or Concept of Employment are expected. This budget provides for Post-Milestone B (MS B) design, integration, modification, product support and test of two aircraft to make them Presidential mission ready. Funds may be used to lease VC-25B test equipment, as well as address emerging and short-notice Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortage (DMSMS) issues. This requirement supports performance of a full financial audit as required by title 10 U.S.C. Chapter 9A, Sec 240-D. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such programs funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605833F, and 0605898F. This program is in Budget Activity 5, System Development and Demonstration (SDD) because it has passed Milestone B approval and is conducting engineering and manufacturing development tasks aimed at meeting validated requirements prior to full rate production.

**Named R-3 performers** (share of this project's FY2027 R-3 total, so they need not reach 100%)**:** Boeing (503.2, 91%), AFLCMC/WV (28.6, 5.2%), 412 TW, JITC (23.3, 4.2%).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| VC-25B Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD), Product Support, & Program Support Costs (PSC) | 418.5 | 587.0 | 531.9 |
| VC-25B Government Test | 1.1 | 7.6 | 23.3 |

> R-2A activities carry the prior, current and budget year only — no five-year plan. Coverage is partial, so count them, never total them.

## Where the FY2027 request goes

| Category | Share | $M |
|---|---|---|
| Industry primes | 100% | 555.2 |

**Top named industry performers:** Boeing ($503.2M, 91%), AFLCMC/WV ($28.6M, 5.2%), 412 TW, JITC ($23.3M, 4.2%).

> R-3 exhibit contract funding, not USAspending obligations.

## Mission & acquisition strategy

The VC-25B Program, formerly known as the Presidential Aircraft Recapitalization (PAR) Program, replaces the Presidential VC-25A fleet which faces capability gaps, rising maintenance costs, and parts obsolescence as it ages beyond 30 years. The VC-25B Program delivers two new aircraft to meet the requirements for the President to execute the duties of Head of State, Chief Executive, and Commander-in-Chief. The VC-25B Program uniquely modifies two Boeing 747-8 commercial aircraft to provide the President, staff, and guests with safe and reliable air transportation with the equivalent level of communications capability and security available in the White House.

In August 2012, the Defense Acquisition Executive (DAE), as the VC-25B Milestone Decision Authority, approved the Materiel Development Decision. The Capability Development Document (CDD) was validated by the Joint Requirements Oversight Council in November 2014. In January 2015, the Secretary of the Air Force's Determination and Findings designated the Boeing 747-8 aircraft as the airframe platform, and the DAE's Acquisition Decision Memorandum authorized Pre-Milestone (MS) B contracts aimed at improving affordability and reducing program execution risk.

## Related program elements

- [0604288F — Survivable Airborne Operations Center](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604288F) (Air Force)
- [0604642A — Light Tactical Wheeled Vehicles](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604642A) (Army)
- [0604327F — Direct Strike Penetrator Systems](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604327F) (Air Force)
- [0303153K — PEO Spectrum](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0303153K) (Defense-Wide)

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-3, PE 0401319F (PB PB2027); FY2027 NDAA committee marks (as of 2026-07-27).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="0401319F")`.

*HitchAI is an independent intelligence service, not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Defense. Budget figures are requests/estimates, not obligations.*