NEW DELHI: Two Boeing 777 aircraft, with missile defence systems which will serve on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Air India One’ fleet, will arrive in India today.
The two aircraft were initially scheduled to land in India early 2020 but it was delayed due to “operational issues”.
Air India had sent the two long-haul Boeing 777-300ER aircraft to a Boeing facility in Dallas to be modified for VVIP travel. The aircraft will only be used by PM Narendra Modi, President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu.
Aug 01, 2020 An image of an aircraft's interior is being shared with the false claim that it shows the interior of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's new official aircraft, the Boeing 777-300ER. The image being shared with the post is that of the interior of a VVIP version of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and not of the Boeing 777-300ER. PM's B-777 VVIP Aircraft. NEW DELHI: India is all set to receive two wide-bodied Boeing 777-300ERs from the United States to serve as 'Air India One' that will be used to fly Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Ram Nath.
Here’s all you need to know about the first customised Boeing 777 aircraft:
- The aircraft has its own missile defence system called the Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) and Self-Protection Suites (SPS), which is capable of countering missile threats.
- The two aircraft will be on par with the US President’s Air Force One in terms of security measures.
- The pair can fly between the US and India in one go without having to stop for refuelling.
The two Boeing 777 aircraft will have the Self-Protection Suites (SPS), which is used in the US President’s Air Force One.
- SPS includes large aircraft infrared countermeasures, counter-measures dispensing system and integrated defensive electronic warfare suite . These protection systems can jam enemy radar frequencies and divert heat-seeking missiles by disturbing their guidance systems.
- This will be India’s first dedicated aircraft for the President, Vice President and Prime Minister - who usually travel via state-run airline, Air India.
- The Boeing 777 aircraft will be operated by Indian Air Force pilots and not by pilots of Air India.
- Air India Engineering Services Limited (AIESL), which is a subsidiary of the Indian national carrier, will be maintaining the two new planes.
Aadhya Khatri - Oct 20, 2020
The aircraft comes equipped with a secure communication system that enables video and audio callings in mid-air with minimal risk of being hacked
The aircraft dedicated to transport PM Narendra Modi, President Ram Nath Kovind, and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu – the Air India One, arrived at Delhi on October 1.
The aircraft is one of the two Boeing 777-300 ERs with a wide body that has been customized for the job.
According to a person with insight into the matter, the aircraft comes equipped with an advanced and secure communication system that enables video and audio callings in mid-air with minimal risk of being hacked.
The two Boeing planes were scheduled to arrive in India in early 2020 but after running into some operational issues, the date had been delayed.
The aircraft is protected by LAIRCM (short for Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures), a defensive system for large transport, and SPS (Self-Protection Suites) to guard it against missile attacks.
These protective measures can tap into the guidance system of heat-seeking missiles to knock them off course, and block enemies’ frequencies.
Both of the new planes are comparable to the Air Force One of the U.S’s president when it comes to protective measures.
Modi Boeing 777 Aircraft
According to a government official, the aircraft won’t be piloted by Air India, but instead, by the Indian Air Force.
The two Boeing 777-300ERs were sent to Boeing to be customized for VVIP transport. The total cost of purchasing and modifying is estimated to be Rs 8,400 crore.
The two planes operated for Air India for a few months back in 2018 before being sent to Dallas for retrofitting. The maintenance of the planes will be the responsibility of AIESL (short for Air India Engineering Services Limited).
Boeing 777-200
For now, the VVIPs are using B747 planes of Air India.
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Modi Boeing 777 Seat Map
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