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

nNEWDELHI: Two specially modified Boeing-777 aircraft, capable of countering missile threats, will join Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Air India One fleet by September-end, two people familiar with the development said on Wednesday.

The first head-of-state Boeing777 aircraft will arrive in India from the United States by Augustend followed by the second one a month later, they said on condition of anonymity.

The planes will come equipped with self-protection suites (SPS) consisting of aircraft infrared countermeasures, advanced integrated defensive electronic warfare suite and counter-measures dispensing system to protect them from inbound missiles.the aircraft will match the US President’s

Air Force One in security measures, the officials said.

Air India had sent a pair of new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft to a Boeing facility in Dallas to be refurbished for VVIP travel, including installation of missile defence systems worth $190 million. Aircraft records from open source websites showed both jets were less than 3 years old and have been sparingly used.

The new long-haul aircraft will be used exclusively 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,” said Air Marshal KK Nohwar (retd), director general, Centre for Air Power Studies.

The three dignitaries fly Air India’s Boeing-747 planes that the state-run airline deploys on commercial flights. These are temporarily reconfigured for the dignitaries when they need to travel, with the call sign changing to Air India One.

The new planes have been configured to give PM Modi some generous office space, meeting rooms, a wide array of communication systems and a section for handling medical emergencies. The aircraft can fly between the US and India without having to stop for refuelling.

The protection systems on the planes can jam enemy radar frequencies and divert heat-seeking missiles by disturbing their guidance systems.

The US administration announced its decision to give India access to the SPS for the special VVIP aircraft in February 2019, stressing that the sale would improve India’s capability to deter regional threats.