its Air India one
Here’s some news for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. he is got a new office. What is more, he will be going places in it. And he will be better protected in it, have more elbow room, even play host to foreign visitors—all without even being on Indian soil.
The fact is, the Indian Air Force, in whose craft the top dignitaries of the country fly, is getting a spanking new home in the sky for the Indian Prime Minister. The first of three ultra luxury transport aircraft, the Boeing Business Jets (BBJ), ordered for a whopping Rs 734 crore, will arrive in May to join the VVIP squadron of the IAF that ferries the President, Prime Minister and top Cabinet ministers.
While the Indian version of Air Force One is being kept under wraps by IAF due to “security concerns”, the aircraft is known to be fitted with a secure satellite communication centre, an advanced missile warning system and deflecting shield, electronic counter measures and radar warning systems.
This means that when the PM travels on official work, he will be able to conduct meetings, hold press conferences, catch a wink of sleep and remain in constant audio and visual touch with New Delhi without leaving his aircraft.
“The Boeing Business Jet is a specially configured aircraft for VVIP comfort. Its interiors create a working environment befitting the VVIP’s official stature. More importantly , it is equipped with the latest self-protection suite, thus providing our VIPs the highest level of protection from any ground-based or airborne threat,” the Indian Air Force, tasked with maintaining and operating the VVIP fleet, says.
While the older 737s do not have any self protection systems, the Embraer executive jets are reported to have limited protection against land-launched weapons and heat seeking missiles. The BBJs, on the other hand, have an “extremely efficient” missile protection suite and powerful electronic systems designed to confuse the incoming missile.
The IAF refuses to share details, but the minimum systems on board will be an IR (Infra Red) sensor and jammer to track incoming missiles from a good distance to warn the pilot. This would also activate the counter measures unit that will dispense flares and decoys. Like the American Air Force One, the BBJ is also being fitted with electronic counter measures to jam enemy radars.
The three BBJs have been specifically ordered to replace the Boeing 737-200s that were acquired in the 1980s for the use of the top dignitaries. Unlike the earlier craft with their limited resources, the BBJs have a range of close to 11,000 km and a maximum speed of 890 kmph. So they will be able to fly to most parts of the world without a refuelling stopover.
This will be a massive change from the current lot of aircraft that fly VVIPs in the country. Both the Embraer executive jets and the Boeing 737s in the IAF’s inventory have a limited flying range and need to make numerous fuel stopovers during long flights. In fact, the Boeing 737s cannot even fly abroad due to outdated avionic systems and the lack of modern navigational aids.
Once inside, the PM and his entourage will find a full-fledged flying office-cum-residence that can host up to 48 guests besides having a private bedroom for the VVIP, an executive office with Internet availability and secure communication connections.
The 807 sq ft cabin has been customised with a stateroom and a separate meeting room, something that is inconceivable on the much smaller Embraer 135 Legacy jets that are used to transport VVIPs within the country and for short overseas hauls and the older generation Boeing 737-200s that fly dignitaries on the domestic circuit.
Air India One
The president also undertook the maiden flight of the BBJ, christened 'Rajdoot' (the ambassador). The other two jets are called 'Rajhans' (the swan) and 'Rajkamal' (the lotus).
She flew to Lilabari in
"It will be more business-like with the journeys cut short. I can now give more time to study," Patil said before boarding the aircraft.
The supreme commander of the armed forces boarded the aircraft after a small prayer ritual was conducted. The president was accompanied by an entourage of 20 officials on the four-day tour of Arunachal Pradesh and
With the flight, Patil formally inducted the jets into the IAF's Air Headquarters Communications Squadron that is based at the Palam Air Force station here.
"We have ushered in the new era for flying our national leaders. The aircraft in its class is the finest. Its features are SPS (Special Protection Suite), more passenger comfort and lower noise level, which makes it class apart from what we have been flying," IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major told reporters here.
The IAF has purchased the aircraft from the
The name 'Rajdoot' was first initially borne by a Russian TU-124 and then by the Boeing-737 the new jet is replacing.
The BBJ is based on a newer generation Boeing-737.
The aircraft has entered service nine months behind schedule due to last- minute integration problems of the missile defence system and sorting out of end-user verification laws with the
"We have sorted this out. No physical verification will be there for the equipments in the aircraft," Major said.
The three aircraft are being extensively flown across the country and are undergoing complete system checks.
Three Business Boeing Jets (BBJ) - all modelled on the US
The President also undertook the maiden flight of the BBJ christened Rajdoot. The other two jets are called Rajhans and Rajkamal.
She flew to Lilabari in Assam on way to Arunachal Pradesh in the aircraft emblazoned with the name of India
"It will be more business-like with the journeys cut short. I can now give more time to study," Patil said before boarding the aircraft.
The supreme commander of the armed forces boarded the aircraft after a small prayer ritual was conducted. The president was accompanied by an entourage of 20 officials on the four-day tour of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam
With the flight, Patil formally inducted the jets into the IAF's Air Headquarters Communications Squadron that is based at the Palam Air Force station here. The squadron ferries the president, the vice president, the prime minister, the service chiefs and other dignitaries.
"We have ushered in the new era for flying our national leaders. The aircraft in its class is the finest. Its features are SPS (Special Protection Suite), more passenger comfort and lower noise level, which makes it class apart from what we have been flying," IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major told reporters here.
The IAF has purchased the aircraft from the US
The name Rajdoot was first initially borne by a Russian TU-124 and then by the Boeing-737 the new jet is replacing. The BBJ is based on a newer generation Boeing-737.
The aircraft has entered service nine months behind schedule due to last minute integration problems of the missile defence system and sorting out of end-user verification laws with the US
"We have sorted this out. No physical verification will be there for the equipments in the aircraft," Major said.
The three aircraft are being extensively flown across the country and are undergoing complete system checks. One aircraft will be dedicated for the president and the prime minister, another will be used to ferry special guests and senior ministers, while one will be on standby.
The aircraft have a spacious VVIP cabin and can carry a total of 46 passengers in four different zones.
The new jets have been configured to the same security specifications as the Boeing-747 that flies the US
Powered by two CFM-56 engines that are jointly manufactured by the US
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