B777 Air India One

The advanced Boeing 777-300 ER flying fortress aircraft, made of special radar absorbing metal alloys and fitted with the latest in technology is akin to US President Barack Obama’s Boeing 747-200 Air Force one, and is even capable of dodging missiles and will be maintained by the Indian Air Force. First custom-made VVIP aircraft Boeing 777 'Air India One' for President, PM arrives in India - The plane was scheduled to be delivered by aircraft manufacturer Boeing to Air India during August but the delivery was delayed due to technical reasons, news agency PTI reported quoting the officials. The VVIP aircraft B-777 - whose call sign is Air India One - is a replacement of wide-body aircraft Boeing B-747 jumbo aircraft.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made 95 trips to 58 countries, including five visits to the United States, since he won the Lok Sabha elections in May 2014. A whopping Rs. 518 crore spent on PM Modi’s foreign travel between 2014 and 2019 has not only made him a most enviable globetrotter, but raised curiosity about his Air Force One aircraft worldwide.

Adding to the curiosity about Air India One deployed for foreign travels of India’s VVIPs is the delivery of the two new Boeing 777-300ER equipped with the most advanced missile defence mechanism and mid-air communication systems. Today, the Boeing jet for the Indian VVIPs landed in New Delhi after a 15-hour flight from the US. A special team of Air India and Indian Air Force officials escorted the new Air India One plane from Dallas, Texas to India. Another custom-made Air India One B777 plane will be delivered later this year.

The first of the two Boeing B777 custom-made aircraft, is specially retrofitted with the latest self-defense protection suite for VVIP transport duties. This aircraft, which was originally owned by Air India, will now be handed over to the Indian Air Force, and will be used to ferry the top political leaders of the country. The Boeing 777-300ER, whose call sign will permanently be Air India One, currently has a seating capacity of 342 with four seats in First Class, 35 in Business and 303 in Economy.

B777 Air India One Cost

Air India One is the call sign of official VVIP flights that the Indian Air Force operates for Prime Minister or President’s foreign trips. The Air Headquarters Communication Squadron at New Delhi IGI Airport helms the deployment of Air India One aircraft, the flying fortress, for the top three VVIPs’ international state visits. (The President is VIP 1, the Vice President is VIP 2, and the Prime Minister is VIP 3)

Air India’s Boeing 747-400 has been used with the call sign, Air India One, for the top three VVIPs’ foreign travel till date. The aircraft, when not in use for VVIP flights, is deployed for operating civil flights. However, the 26-year-old Boeing 747-400s will soon be replaced by two new Boeing 777-300ERs which will permanently feature the call sign, Air India One, and the Ashoka emblem.

The new Boeing 777-300ER took its maiden flight from Seattle to New Delhi for a display at the Republic Day celebrations in 2018. Both of the two new aircraft purchased for Air India One flights flew back to the USA and have been retrofitted with the world-class security upgrades there.

B777 Air India One India

The new Air India One aircraft for the top three VVIPs of India have got the most advanced security makeover on the lines of US President’s Air Force One and at a whopping cost of $190 million. The two B777 planes cost Indian government Rs 1084 crore. Rs 8400 crore is the total cost of purchase and configuration of the new Air India One B777 planes.

The $190-million security upgrade to Boeing 777-300ER for Air India One is an outcome of the US-India strategic relationship in defence. The Boeing 777s have been retrofitted with two systems – Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) and Advance Integrated Defensive Electronic Warfare Suites – upon US President Trump’s approval of the same. These two defence systems will make Air India One as strong a citadel as Air Force One. Notably, the US is the second largest source of arms for India.

Besides radar warning sensors, missile warning receivers, anti-missile flares, intruder detection systems and a countermeasure dispensing system, Air India One has been fitted out with the most advanced communication technology, using which the top three VVIPs will be able to stay connected, both online and offline, all times. Furthermore, each of the new Air India One aircraft is fortified with 238-mile-long wiring to protect crucial electronics on board from electromagnetic pulses of a nuclear explosion. The Indian Air Force has not disclosed other security mechanisms.

There are a well-equipped conference room, an operation theater, a spacious bedroom and a special lounge inside the Boeing 777s for the Indian VVIPs’ long-haul international flights. Each Boeing 777 can store food for nearly 2000 people. The engineering team of Air India will be maintaining the new B777 jets.

Usually, an Air India One flight has four pilots and a dedicated team of doctors and trained medical staff on board for unforeseen contingencies. A squad of specially trained officers is also deployed on all flights for the top three VVIPs.

Air India One 777

B777 Air India One Year

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