Boeing executive Dennis Muilenberg on Wednesday met with President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday and committed to keep costs for Air Force One under $4 billion, though current estimates already have the total cost for the program well below that amount. Trump earlier this month tweeted that the cost of the Air Force One program was “out of control,” citing the $4 billion figure. A Government Accountability Office report from March said the program’s total cost would be about $3.2 billion for two aircraft, planned for delivery in 2024. Muilenberg said Boeing is “going to get it done” for less than $4 billion, according to Bloomberg. Lockheed Martin executive Marillyn Hewson also met with Trump, after he tweeted criticism about the F-35’s program costs. A Lockheed spokesman declined to comment on the visit, Bloomberg reported.
The new defense reconciliation bill includes $7.2 billion for Air Force and Navy aviation accounts, almost half of which will buy more F-15EXs. While electronic warfare, drones, connectivity and airlift all get attention, the F-35 was conspicuously absent from the package, with no explanation given.