The U.S. Air Force will purchase a Boeing 737 MAX passenger aircraft and convert it into a C-40 executive jet

The U.S. Air Force will purchase a Boeing 737 MAX passenger aircraft and convert it into a C-40 executive jet. The picture shows the 737 MAX series passenger aircraft. (Taken from Boeing website)

[Reporter Luo Tianbin/Reporting from Taipei] The U.S. Air Force recently approved a major administrative aircraft procurement budget and is expected to spend US$250 million (approximately NT$7.95 billion) to purchase a new 737 MAX series passenger aircraft from Boeing. This civil aircraft will undergo large-scale military VIP configuration modifications in the future and will be officially incorporated into the U.S. Air Force to become a new C-40 executive aircraft. This plan not only marks the world's first case of a Boeing 737 MAX series passenger aircraft being converted into a military aircraft, but is also expected to significantly expand the long-distance transportation capacity and high-level diplomatic visit efficiency of the US military's existing fleet.

Although the U.S. Air Force has not yet officially announced the exact procurement model, its Air Mobility Command, which is responsible for transportation tasks, has previously issued relevant public bidding documents in advance, clearly seeking suitable contractors to provide operational training for the Boeing 737 MAX 8.

Please read on...

Therefore, the military community and major aviation media generally expect that the final model selected for this procurement project is the 737 MAX 8. After the modification is completed, it is expected to successfully succeed the existing C-40B and C-40C of the US military and obtain the official military model number of "C-40D". The new 737 MAX has upgraded digital avionics, CFM LEAP-1B engines and aerodynamic appearance, which has greatly improved range and comfort. The US military hopes to explore the possibility of expanding its fleet.

The Air Force's current administrative aircraft types mainly include the Fokker 50 and the BH-1900 "Pidge 1900". However, the aircraft are old. The Air Force will invest 12.55155 billion yuan to purchase 12 multi-functional personnel aircraft and ancillary equipment. In the front of the picture is the Beechi 1900 administrative plane (picture: taken from the Air Force Facebook)

Military personnel pointed out today that the strategic positioning of the administrative planes of the US and Taiwan military is different, which also involves the selection and equipment of the aircraft models. The United States focuses on long-range transcontinental defense communications and high-level visits; my country focuses on short- and medium-range and rapid personnel transfers during wartime, and combines domestic civil aviation models and warranty systems to implement national defense resilience.

According to the Ministry of National Defense's latest military plan, the Air Force will promote the "multifunctional personnel aircraft procurement project" and invest 12.55155 billion yuan from 2027 to 2033 to purchase 12 multifunctional personnel aircraft and ancillary equipment. The first two aircraft are expected to fly back to Taiwan in 2030, followed by four aircraft each in 2031 and 2032, and the final two aircraft in 2033. They are expected to replace the Fokker 50 and Beech 1900 currently in service.