Presidential Aircraft Recap (PAR)

Abstract

The Presidential Aircraft Recapitalization (PAR) Program, now officially designated as VC-25B, will replace the Presidential VC-25A fleet which faces capability gaps, rising maintenance costs, and parts obsolescence as it reaches the end of its planned 30-year life-cycle. The VC-25B Program Office will deliver a new fleet of 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 will uniquely modify 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 will include an electrical power upgrade with dual Auxiliary Power Units that are usable in flight, mission communication system, work and rest environment, executive interior, military avionics, self-defense system, autonomous enplaning and deplaning, and autonomous baggage loading. No significant changes to the existing VC-25A Concept of Operations or Concept of Employment are expected. In August 2012, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics (USD(AT&L)) approved the VC-25B 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 VC-25B platform, and the USD (AT&L)'s Acquisition Decision Memorandum authorized Pre-Milestone B (Pre-MS B) contracts aimed at improving affordability and reducing program execution risk. In February 2015, the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition approved a Justification and Approval designating Boeing as the sole source for PAR Pre-MS B activities and Post-MS B design, integration, modification, and test activities. The acquisition strategy was approved by USD(AT&L) in September 2015. In March 2017, the White House reaffirmed the minimum set of requirements necessary to meet Presidential mission needs; these requirements are codified in the March 2017 CDD. MS B certification occurred in September 2016. This budget supports Pre-MS B risk reduction activities and studies, Post-MS B design, integration, modification, and test of two aircraft to make them Presidential mission ready. In FY17, the program began Preliminary Design (PD) and awarded a contract modification to purchase two Boeing 747-8 commercial aircraft, taking acceptance of those aircraft in early FY18. In FY18 and FY19, the program will continue PD activities and begin Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD). Funds may be used to address emerging and short-notice Diminishing Manufacturing and Material Shortage (DMSMS) issues. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver VC-25B system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program elements 0605826F, 0605827F, 0605828F, 0605829F, 0605830F, 0605831F, 0605832F, 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.

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2019
• Source ID: 655250_0401319F_5_3600_PB_2019

Tags

Readers

• Civilian Systems Systems Program Capability Development and Upgrade Support Activity Expense and Pay Management.
• Government and Public Administration Law.