WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Friday unveiled a newly converted Boeing 747 that will join the Air Force One fleet as an interim presidential aircraft, marking a significant change in the modernization of the aircraft used to transport U.S. presidents. The plane, originally provided by Qatar, was presented at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland following extensive modifications designed to meet presidential transportation and security requirements. Officials said the aircraft will operate alongside existing presidential planes until new Boeing-built replacements enter service later in the decade.

The aircraft arrives as the government continues to face delays in the long-running Air Force One replacement program. The current presidential fleet consists of two Boeing 747-200-based VC-25A aircraft that entered service in 1990 and have required increasing maintenance as they age. Boeing's replacement VC-25B program has experienced schedule setbacks and rising costs, prompting the administration to pursue the modified Qatari jet as a temporary solution. The newly unveiled aircraft features a red, white and dark blue exterior design that differs from the light-blue presidential color scheme used for decades.