Two Boeing 777 aircraft, with missile defense systems that will serve in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Air India One’ fleet, will arrive in India today.
The two planes were initially scheduled to land in India in early 2020, but it was delayed due to “operational problems.”
Air India had shipped the two long-haul Boeing 777-300ERs to a Boeing facility in Dallas to be modified for VVIP travel. The aircraft will only be used by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu.
Here’s everything you need to know about the first custom Boeing 777 aircraft:
– The aircraft has its own missile defense system called Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) and Self Protection Suites (SPS), which is capable of countering missile threats.
– The two planes will be on par with the President of the United States’ Air Force One in terms of security measures.
– The pair can fly between the US and India in one go without having to stop to refuel.
– The two Boeing 777 aircraft will have the Self Protection Suites (SPS), which are used in the US President’s Air Force One.
– SPS includes infrared countermeasures for large aircraft, countermeasures dispensing system and integrated defensive electronic warfare package. These protection systems can block the frequencies of enemy radars and deflect heat seeking missiles by disrupting their guidance systems.
– This will be India’s first aircraft dedicated to the President, Vice President and Prime Minister, who generally travel through the state airline Air India.
– The Boeing 777 aircraft will be operated by Indian Air Force pilots and not Air India pilots.
– Air India Engineering Services Limited (AIESL), which is a subsidiary of the Indian national airline, will maintain the two new aircraft.
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