Lawmakers have turned down the Air Force’s request for a second C-40 aircraft, marking another obstacle in the service’s efforts to enhance its airlift fleet that carries high-level U.S. officials, as reported by Breaking Defense.
In its fiscal year (FY) 2025 budget submission, the Air Force sought one new C-40 aircraft while also requesting the reallocation of FY 2024 funds to obtain a second aircraft. However, Congress denied this reprogramming request in July, and several draft defense bills have similarly cut or significantly reduced the approximately $329 million earmarked for the C-40 program in the FY 2025 proposal.
The reprogramming request sought approximately the same funding amount as the upcoming FY 2025 budget, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The rationale behind the new C-40 acquisitions is to bolster the Air Force’s existing fleet of four C-32s, which are primarily responsible for transporting the so-called “Top Five” users: the vice president, the first spouse, the secretary of defense, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the secretary of state. According to an Air Force spokesperson, while the C-32 fleet meets mission capability standards, it cannot fully accommodate all requests from the Top Five users due to insufficient aircraft availability.
Currently, the C-32A fleet can only fulfill 59% of the requests from these key officials, which has prompted the Air Force to seek additional aircraft. This requirement for more jets arose out of a collaborative review involving the Air Force, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and the White House.
The Air Force’s VIP airlift is mainly conducted using the C-32 and C-40. The C-32 is a modified version of Boeing’s 757, while the smaller C-40 is based on the Boeing 737 Next Generation. The secretary of defense also frequently travels on the E-4B „Doomsday Plane,” while the president traditionally flies on the VC-25A, commonly referred to as Air Force One. Although the C-32 is primarily designated for Top Five travel, the C-40, which transports a wider range of officials, can also be tasked with C-32 missions. However, demand remains high for both aircraft, and recently, mechanical issues with the C-40 have led to negative publicity for the administration, including incidents that stranded Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
When questioned about backup aircraft for contingencies, the Air Force spokesperson emphasized that supporting Top Five travel is a priority, informing the Department of Defense and Air Force’s policy to have backup options ready in case of unexpected maintenance issues.
The Air Force currently operates 11 aircraft across two versions of the C-40, namely the C-40B and C-40C. The proposed new variant, the C-40D, would be akin to the C-40B but would include secure communications for senior leaders, similar to those equipped on the C-32, along with an increased capacity to accommodate up to 40 passengers, in addition to VIP personnel.
It is noteworthy that the C-32’s base airframe, the Boeing 757, is no longer in production, leaving the 737 as the only available narrowbody jetliner manufactured in the U.S. that can enhance executive airlift capabilities.
The Air Force initially announced the intention to procure the new C-40 in its FY 2025 budget request. However, several crucial congressional committees have indicated that they would oppose most or all funding for this initiative. Conversely, Senate appropriators have maintained the funding request in their markup of the FY 2025 spending bill. Additionally, lawmakers recently approved temporary funding that will extend into December, suggesting that finalization of the FY 2025 budget may take until the end of the calendar year or longer.
Regarding the acquisition strategy for the aircraft, the Air Force spokesperson mentioned that the service plans to provide more details in FY 2025, which begins on October 1.