Manmohan's legacy for Modi: A specially-designed fleet of BMW series

[Rahul9090]

NEW DELHI: One legacy Narendra Modi is likely to inherit from his predecessor Manmohan Singh is his cavalcade, including the specially designed armored BMW 7 series — the most secured vehicle in the country.

The special protection group (SPG) which manages these vehicles may, however, go for slight changes or decide to go for a new one as per the new prime minister's choice.

The vehicle, which is able to secure the occupants from landmine blasts to Kalashnikov's bullets, is likely to be Modi's official vehicle if he does not decide otherwise. This saloon can run for kilometers even on flat tyres and are fitted with advance heat sensors to ward off missiles and bombs as well, say sources.

While the fuel tanks are made such that they don't explode during an attack, its cabin also turns into a gas-proof chamber and ensures oxygen supply to secure the occupant in cases of gas attacks, a source familiar with the vehicle said.

Modi, who in most likelihood will arrive at the swearing-in ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan in his Scorpio, will come under the SPG cover immediately after taking the oath and hence be travelling in this BMW along with commandos form the elite unit SPG, some of whom have specially been deputed from Gujarat police, sources in the security establishment said. The lead SPG agent which sits in front passenger seat of the prime minster's car is speculated to be from the Gujarat unit, a source said.

Modi has been using Mahindra Scorpio for long but it would be interesting whether he opts for it as prime minister as well. An ex-SPG officer says that Scorpio may not go well with PM level security because of its height but ultimately choice is PM's.

Anticipating the D-Day, a covert unit of SPG, a source added, has been working on the security apparatus for Modi since January.

The SPG cover model and the unit's Blue Book are likely to undergo some additions and get personalized for Modi as he is the most risked PM after Rajiv Gandhi. Some of the changes may include increasing the number of dummy BMWs in the cavalcade and installing newer intelligence and communication features in the satellite phone and jammers, the source said.

Around nine cars are expected to be in Modi's cavalcade apart from a unit of bomb squad vehicle. Out of these at least two are likely to be identical BMWs to act as decoys and another five BMWs and others for the escorts. The SPG will also enhance the dummy routes for the PM's convoy from that of Manmohan Singh due to the difference in their threat perception.

The SPG is also likely to have the Air India One, the call-sign of any aircraft carrying the Prime Minister of India, to suit the security assessment and travel needs of Narendra Modi who is known to be a frequent traveler for work purposes.

Manmohan's legacy for Modi: A specially-designed fleet of BMW series - The Times of India

 

[Tshering22]

Modi is used to sticking to swadeshi or Indian made stuff. If he can specially modify Mahindra Scorpio and armour it.

Although we may need to stop using Air India's old 747s and use probably new A330s or A350s.

 

[Abingdonboy]

Modi is used to sticking to swadeshi or Indian made stuff. If he can specially modify Mahindra Scorpio and armour it.

Although we may need to stop using Air India's old 747s and use probably new A330s or A350s.

NOPE.

Pretty stupid to call this "Manmohan's legacy" as the BMWs were bought by the SPG as per their criteria and actually it was Vajpyee who was the first PM to have the BMW 7 series as his car (first the E38 and then the E65) with MMS inheriting them form him before in 2012 the newer (and current) F02s came. No way are the Scorpios up to the task and I seriously doubt the SPG would allow Modi to keep it as his PM vehicle, he faces more threats than all PMs before him and his security is being enhanced, picking the Scorpio over the BMW 7 Series Security is a HUGE step backwards and it's not a risk the SPG can tolerate.


I've seen these silly journos speculating whether it will be the Scorpio or BMW Modi uses as his vehicle and if these journos actually had a clue what they were talking about they would see how retarded their logic was.



Anyway, looking foreword to seeing more from Modi's SPG cavalcade, India's PM's motorcade is really one of the classiest such motorcades around IMHO:

100% Modi's cavalcade will be IDENTICAL to MMS's, intact it will feature MORE foreign vehicles as the threat perception has been stated as much higher for him so he will have more dummy 7 Series and more X5 escorts.


I don't know where some Indians get the idea that ALL foreign products have an indian substitute. A Scorpio replacing a 7 Series Security? Nonsense of the highest order.

Although we may need to stop using Air India's old 747s and use probably new A330s or A350s.

IAF needs to get a dedicated long-distance a/c for Head Of State transport to use alongside the BBJs currently in use for domestic use and the 747s of Air India used for international visits. Especially for someone like Modi who goes abroad so much, having an Air India airliner is just unviable and actually far too risky.

 

[Tshering22]

NOPE. 100% Modi's cavalcade will be IDENTICAL to MMS's, intact it will feature MORE foreign vehicles as the threat perception has been stated as much higher for him so he will have more dummy 7 Series and more X5 escorts.


I don't know where some Indians get the idea that ALL foreign products have an indian substitute. A Scorpio replacing a 7 Series Security? Nonsense of the highest order.

Calm down. I was referring to his innate liking towards everything Indians.

Like I said, BMW may have its advanced armoring. But it may or may not be his choice. And if he sticks to Scorpio, the SPG may have to order armoured Scorpios.

Honestly, I don't mind anything as long as he is safe.

IAF needs to get a dedicated long-distance a/c for Head Of State transport to use alongside the BBJs currently in use for domestic use and the 747s of Air India used for international visits. Especially for someone like Modi who goes abroad so much, having an Air India airliner is just unviable and actually far too risky.

I agree. I think that Air India One is also modified with secure communication and other advanced features.

Thanks to the pathetic performance of Indian aerospace sector, we don't have a domestic alternative to the 747s.

However, we can always have the new A350s modified. France is a reliable country and is advanced in making VVIP aircraft.

 

[satishkumarcsc]

NOPE.




100% Modi's cavalcade will be IDENTICAL to MMS's, intact it will feature MORE foreign vehicles as the threat perception has been stated as much higher for him so he will have more dummy 7 Series and more X5 escorts.


I don't know where some Indians get the idea that ALL foreign products have an indian substitute. A Scorpio replacing a 7 Series Security? Nonsense of the highest order.


IAF needs to get a dedicated long-distance a/c for Head Of State transport to use alongside the BBJs currently in use for domestic use and the 747s of Air India used for international visits. Especially for someone like Modi who goes abroad so much, having an Air India airliner is just unviable and actually far too risky.

IAF already has a dedicated Air Force One jet for the PM, The Vice-President and the President of India. It is called as Rajdoot and was inducted in 2009 I presume.

 

[takeiteasy]

sometimes "Be Indian, Buy Indian" must be left for better options in this case regarding security for eg.

 

[sancho]

Modi is used to sticking to swadeshi or Indian made stuff. If he can specially modify Mahindra Scorpio and armour it.

Although we may need to stop using Air India's old 747s and use probably new A330s or A350s.

Oh please, he will use these foreign vehicles, because they are the best wrt protection and performance for high value targets. This has nothing to do with national pride or party politics, but simply with the fact that a nation has to protect it's head and also VIPs of foreign countries that visits India.
We have ordered Boeing Dreamliners for the VIP role, but Air Indias financial problems are a curse imo. They are already leasing some of their Dreamliners, although not the VIP once, but it still will cause issues, they might be better of, if diverted directly under IAF.

 

[livingdead]

Calm down. I was referring to his innate liking towards everything Indians.

Like I said, BMW may have its advanced armoring. But it may or may not be his choice. And if he sticks to Scorpio, the SPG may have to order armoured Scorpios.

Honestly, I don't mind anything as long as he is safe.



I agree. I think that Air India One is also modified with secure communication and other advanced features.

Thanks to the pathetic performance of Indian aerospace sector, we don't have a domestic alternative to the 747s.

However, we can always have the new A350s modified. France is a reliable country and is advanced in making VVIP aircraft.

Security should be left to experts, SPG in this instance who are going to provide security. I dont think modi will go against their prescription for this unnecessary swadeshi fetish.

 

[SHAMK9]

Although we may need to stop using Air India's old 747s and use probably new A330s or A350s.

Air India has those?

 

[Yeti]

Why not Jaguars? owned by Tata who also have Range Rovers would be very nice indeed! I like the 7 series though and these look like the new shapes!

 

[livingdead]

Why not Jaguars? owned by Tata who also have Range Rovers would be very nice indeed! I like the 7 series though and these look like the new shapes!

you want to buy new fleet of vehicles just to satisfy some ego? why should taxpayers fund such stupidity?

 

[sancho]

Why not Jaguars? owned by Tata who also have Range Rovers would be very nice indeed! I like the 7 series though and these look like the new shapes!

Most likely because of the high quality of German vehicle protection, which obviously is based on German plattforms (BMW, MB, Audi), India is not the only country in the world, that takes benefit from German know how in this field.

 

[Yeti]

you want to buy new fleet of vehicles just to satisfy some ego? why should taxpayers fund such stupidity?

Not new now of course that's just wasting money! I mean before when the order was placed for the BMW's. German cars have good build quality though theres no disputing that.

Do we know the firm that carried out the modifications? was it Israeli?

 

[IndoUS]

Oh please, he will use these foreign vehicles, because they are the best wrt protection and performance for high value targets. This has nothing to do with national pride or party politics, but simply with the fact that a nation has to protect it's head and also VIPs of foreign countries that visits India.
We have ordered Boeing Dreamliners for the VIP role, but Air Indias financial problems are a curse imo. They are already leasing some of their Dreamliners, although not the VIP once, but it still will cause issues, they might be better of, if diverted directly under IAF.

That's the one thing I don't understand is to why do they use Air India. Just have a dedicated aircraft for the PM and President that is maintained by the Air Force, rather than relying on Air India. Which is terrible in such case.

 

[ranjeet]

There was news about Modi using Scorpio .... let's wait till 26th what he does.