PM Modi's New Aircraft Is On Par With US President Donald Trump's Air Force One

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.

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).

For now, the VVIPs are using B747 planes of Air India.

>>> The Official Plane Of PM Modi Will Have These 7 Cool Features