US Air Force Adds Boeing 737 MAX to C-40 Fleet
The U.S. Air Force is expanding its fleet of C-40 VIP aircraft with the Boeing 737 MAX, marking the first time a military operator has acquired this variant. The Air Force granted budgetary approval in 2026 for a single-aircraft expansion to the service's fleet, which currently consists of C-40B and C-40C variants derived from the Boeing 737-700.
A spokesperson for the Air Mobility Command (AMC) confirmed that the Air Force intends to purchase a 737 MAX, citing the need to meet specific requirements. The buy had been explored before but did not proceed until now, when $250 million was authorized in the '26 NDAA to expand C-40 capabilities.
The procurement of the MAX series aircraft has been met with caution due to its troubled history in civilian service. In 2018 and 2019, two high-profile incidents involving Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 resulted in the fatalities of all on board. The incidents were linked to erroneous angle of attack data and the MCAS system, which was later rectified.