New Delhi: In a major advancement, India is all ready to receive two wide-bodied Boeing 777-300ERs to serve as ‘Air India One’. It will be used to fly President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior dignitaries of the country.
Top government sources told ANI that a joint team of senior officers from Air India, VVIP security personnel and senior government officials are on their way to the United States to accept the delivery of Special Extra Section Flight (SESF) or VVIP aircraft ‘Air India One’.
The current Air India One planes of Boeing 747 fleet will be replaced by Boeing 777 which have been customised in the United States. The new aircraft will be operated by pilots of the Indian Air Force and not of Air India.
It will have advanced defence systems similar to Air Force One believed to be the safest plane in the world and is used by the President of the United States.
The planes with an unlimited range can travel around the world in one go. It is also capabale of mid-air refuelling in case of an emergency.
For the security of its diplomatic dignitaries, the Indian government has opted for the state-of-art missile defence systems called Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) and Self-Protection Suites (SPS) to be fitted into the plane.
The plane with Advanced Electronic Warfare Suites feature will have the capability not only to fend off an attack but also take countermeasures in case of an attack.
