Jets with enhanced protection to join PM’s fleet by September

Two specifically modified Boeing-777 plane, able to countering missile threats, will be part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Air India One fleet by September-end, two individuals aware of the event stated on Wednesday.

The first head-of-state Boeing-777 plane will arrive in India from the United States by August-end adopted by the second a month later, they stated on situation of anonymity.

The planes will come outfitted with self-protection suites (SPS) consisting of plane infrared countermeasures, superior built-in defensive digital warfare suite and counter-measures allotting system to guard them from inbound missiles.

The plane will match the US President’s Air Force One in safety measures, the officers stated.

Air India had despatched a pair of recent Boeing 777-300ER plane to a Boeing facility in Dallas to be refurbished for VVIP journey, together with set up of missile defence programs price $190 million. Aircraft data from open supply web sites confirmed each jets had been lower than three years previous and have been sparingly used.

The new long-haul plane will probably be used solely by PM Modi, President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu.

“The threat to VVIPs is always there. Whatever measures a nation needs to take to protect its top leadership should be taken,” stated Air Marshal KK Nohwar (retd), director basic, Centre for Air Power Studies (CAPS).

The three dignitaries fly Air India’s Boeing-747 planes that the state-run airline deploys on business flights. These are briefly reconfigured for the dignitaries when they should journey, with the decision signal altering to Air India One.

The Boeing-747 planes which might be chartered from Air India to be used by the three dignitaries are 20 years previous.

The new planes have been configured to provide PM Modi some beneficiant workplace area, assembly rooms, a big selection of communication programs and a piece for dealing with medical emergencies. The plane can fly between the US and India with out having to cease for refuelling.

The safety programs on the planes can jam enemy radar frequencies and divert heat-seeking missiles by disturbing their steerage programs.

The US administration introduced its resolution to provide India entry to the SPS for the particular VVIP plane in February 2019, stressing that the sale would enhance India’s functionality to discourage regional threats. It stated the SPS would facilitate “a more robust capability into areas of increased missile threats.”