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United States President Donald Trump said the plane donated by Qatar, which is temporarily being used as Air Force One, will undergo extensive upgrades in the coming weeks, hinting that it is not currently equipped with all the advanced security systems that American presidential aircraft have.
While returning from the Club World Cup final in New Jersey, Trump was asked by reporters at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland about the capabilities of the new plane, following reports that it does not have the same level of protection as the traditional Air Force One.
" It has a lot of capabilities, but, to my knowledge, in about a month they will send it to be fully equipped ," the US president said.
Trump added that the modernization process will take about a month, confirming that additional interventions are needed to bring the plane up to the safety standards required for transporting the US president, CNN reported.
Discussions about the plane's security have intensified after media reports suggested that the new Air Force One does not offer the same level of protection as aircraft built specifically for the US president.
According to CNN, the Trump administration reacted sharply to reports of potential security lapses and launched an investigation to identify the individuals who leaked the information to the media. The process reportedly involved White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and FBI Director Kash Patel.
More than a week ago, several White House officials were ordered to hand over their cell phones as part of the investigation.
The New York Times, which first published information on the plane's safety issues, reported that four of its journalists have received official summons from the US administration as part of the investigation.
Concerns about the plane, with an estimated value of around $400 million, were heightened earlier this month when Trump unexpectedly decided not to use it on his return from a NATO summit in Turkey.
At the time, the president said the change was made to allow US service members stationed at Mildenhall base in Britain to visit the aircraft, dismissing claims that the decision was related to security issues.
However, according to CNN sources, the new plane does not yet have all the protective systems needed for the American president's international missions. Other sources, meanwhile, claim that it is equipped with many of the features of the existing Air Force One.
According to reports, security officials continue to prefer the older presidential jet, which was designed and built from the start with maximum focus on protecting the president of the United States. In contrast, the plane donated by Qatar underwent modifications only after it was transferred to the American administration.
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