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India will soon have a desi version of US’s Air Force One aircraft for the exclusive use of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Pranab Mukherjee, reports Times of India.
The aircraft will be highly-secure, plush and fitted with advanced self-protection suites to jam and beat hostile incoming missiles and encrypted satellite communication facilities. The proposal is set to be cleared soon, said the report.
At present, the prime minister and other VVIPs use Boeing 747 'Jumbo Jets' under 'Air India One' call sign after pulling them out from commercial duties as and when required. "These old aircraft do not have anti-missile defence systems, which the SPG holds is necessary. The decision was taken after a committee of secretaries from top ministries and aviation experts examined the matter," a source told the daily.
Quoting sources, the report said the defence acquisitions council, chaired by minister Manohar Parrikar, will take up acquisition of two Boeing 777-300 (extended range) aircraft for extra long-haul flights.
The two 777-300 (ER) aircraft will be bought from Air India, which has a dozen such relatively new wide-bodied planes, and then specially configured for VVIP travel and retrofitted with the sophisticated self-protection suites by Boeing.
The two modified 777-300 (ER) aircraft will be based with the Air HQ Communication Squadron at Palam, which is tasked with ferrying the President, PM and other VVIPs in and around the country.
