PM's very own Air Force One is here

[IceCold]

If aircrafts used by PM's / heads of State were indicators of a world power don't you think all the tin pot dictators of the world would own them ?

So tell me how many countries in the world and that too developing ones you see a jet of this standard used my the PM? Isn't it obvious that PM getting these jets have had something in mind other then mere traveling. Why are you guys creating an issue over nothing. My post was simple with no sarcasm in it, then why to take it in that context? Some one i think prithvi was his nick even brought Pakistan into the equation. By the way the tin pot dictators why don't you just say it who you are referring too?

 

[IceCold]

why dont put your post in such a way that we poor people can understand it.

Its not my headache if someone is unable to understand simple english but there was nothing in it that you guys are acting hostile to.

 

[IceCold]

I am sure if Pakistan had or will have similar aircrafts it would have been enjoyed by you too... we would have produced hundreds of arguments in favor of the decision...

secondly even if India has an ambition in projecting her image or influence whatsoever... I don't see anything wrong in that.. Thank God .. we are trying to do that... given the kind of useless self served politicians we have in our country....

Where did Pakistan get into the equation. We sure have other things more important to take care off then buying a multi million dollar machine for the PM. I just asked a simple question, whats the reaction for? And i am sure and it is quite evident the way you guys are boosting over it that it is indeed a symbol of power, I am pretty sure PM wasn't traveling on a lower class jet or for that matter some train, I am sure that Singh had something else in mind other then just for traveling purpose.

But anyways i am off from the topic, congratulations for it.

 

[Flintlock]

Nobody has really explained why the PM needs a private airplane.

Though personally, I think that it will lessen the security headaches to a great extent. It would also save the PM valuable time. After all, he is a very busy man.

 

[Xeric]

Extremely sorry I think I was too rude, but yaar how does getting a plane relates to Afghanistan and all.

Dear, thats what i am trying to say that please read the post properly. i just narrated that story as a jocularity, but you never got it.

Anywaz, no hard feelings, as i said earlier.

And BTW i did say that the indian PM is "the" luckiest amongst its ccouterparts.

 

[nitesh]

Dear, thats what i am trying to say that please read the post properly. i just narrated that story as a jocularity, but you never got it.

Anywaz, no hard feelings, as i said earlier.

And BTW i did say that the indian PM is "the" luckiest amongst its ccouterparts.

Yup lucky but it is good only to keep the head of state safe.

 

[IceCold]

Nobody has really explained why the PM needs a private airplane.

Though personally, I think that it will lessen the security headaches to a great extent. It would also save the PM valuable time. After all, he is a very busy man.

A rather well balanced reply to my post.

 

[Goodperson]

So what exactly did you find in my post that you referred to as hatred? If you are having a problem understanding my post better not reply to it.

I do not reply to individuals but intentions I read Jealous intentions accompanied by sarcasm. I summarized them as hatred.

 

[Goodperson]

Nobody has really explained why the PM needs a private airplane.

Though personally, I think that it will lessen the security headaches to a great extent. It would also save the PM valuable time. After all, he is a very busy man.

The reason could be -
We are living in hostile environment PM is too important person he frequently needs to travel to counties which are engrossed in turmoil. And terrorists are getting sophisticated. Or Imagine attack on Delhi.

The need for them arose because every time when PM used to visit foreign countries AirIndia had to provide their aircraft. Now PM has a dedicated aircraft and our agencies purchased the best available.

 

[Contrarian]

So tell me how many countries in the world and that too developing ones you see a jet of this standard used my the PM? Isn't it obvious that PM getting these jets have had something in mind other then mere traveling.

First of all guys, Please stop fighting childishly. Even if you do feel that some one else is being mean, better to give him the benifit of doubt than to go all guns blazing.

IceCold, as to the reply for your question, the Indian PM has got this plane because the GoI feels that he needs it. Presently the PM uses a plane from Air India(Now Indian), the National Carrier. The plane he travels in is called Air India 1. That plane has no extra protection built inside the plane, and cannot land on short runways. It has no special facilities apart from communication equipment added as an afterthought. It is a full fledged plane, which was not required.

This new plane, allows the PM to land directly on most of the runways of India, has NBC protection and has facilities for the PM directly to rest, etc, hold conferences, and most importantly, has secure communication means that cannot be easily tapped into.

The second reason and probably the singlemost important reason was that it incorporates the security system. In light of the terrorist threats in India, no one can rule out that the old and big plane of the PM cannot be directly targeted as soon as it takes off from the airport.

There is no arrogance in getting that plane, maybe the Govt feels that the PM needs it, and maybe other countries in the region dont feel the need. Its all about threat perception of individual nations regarding their executive head.

 

[Contrarian]

First VVIP Boeing aircraft arrives in India

New Delhi: The first of three wide-bodied Boeing Business Jets (BBJs), ordered by the Government of India in October 2005 for the Indian Air Force's VVIP squadron landed at the capital's Palam airport over the weekend. Ordered at a cost of Rs937 crore, the three aircraft will join the IAF's elite communication squadron, which ferries national dignitaries such as the president and the PM.

According to ministry of defence (MoD) officials, the other two aircraft are also expected to follow the first one into Palam over the next 45 days.

The BBJs are highly customised aircraft that come equipped with sophisticated self-protection suites (SPS), encrypted satellite communication facilities and advanced navigation aids. These features are similar to those installed onboard the United States Air Force 1, used by the American president.


Interestingly, delivery of these aircraft, was delayed by at least six months due to Washington's insistence on proper safeguards for all the restricted-access security equipment, such as the SPS , installed on the aircraft. India has now agreed to let US Air Force officials inspect the aircraft to ensure that there has been no tinkering with the sensitive technology deployed onboard.


Pentagon delayed delivery lacking any end user verification agreement with India. It has concerns that since the technology used in the US president's aircraft is also similar to that deployed on the Indian versions there has to be an agreement that will ensure secrecy of these technologies as any leakage or tinkering could also impact the security of the American president.

India is now due to sign the End-Use Verification Agreement (EUVA) and the Communication Interoperability and Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA) with the US. Under US laws, a country accessing American defence equipment must negotiate these agreements in order to minimise security risks to the US and its allies and also to ensure compliance with sensitive technology control requirements.

MoD officials reiterated that the country doesn't have problems with safeguards when sensitive technology is being transferred but it would certainly not agree to any provisions that would be deemed to be intrusive and unnecessary. They emphasised that the country indeed has a spotless record in safeguarding high-technologies that it accesses from other countries.

The SPS includes "radar warning receivers" which will alert the aircraft the moment it is ''painted'' by a hostile missile. The "missile-approach warning systems" and "counter-measure systems" will then allow the aircraft to take automatic evasive action ensuring that these missiles are thrown offtrack.

Hostile missiles apart, there are enough advanced electronic counter-measures on board to jam hostile radars.

Apart from standard features that adorn all business jets, the PM will also have a full-fledged executive office and a secure communication chamber and facilities that will allow him to host around 50 guests.

The Rs 937 crore deal for the three aircraft includes Rs202 crore for the SPS technology alone.

domain-b.com : First VVIP Boeing aircraft arrives in India, government to sign end user agreement with US

----------------
The first para says that inspections would be allowed on this plane, but that is not so. India has already cleared with the US that only access records(of the use of that particular SPS equipment) and guarentees would be given, not actual inspection.

 

[Contrarian]

India buys 3 business jets for VVIPs

Aug. 4: India has taken possession of the first of the three business jets — armed with protection systems against missiles — from American aviation giant Boeing that will transport VVIPs in the country, including the President and the Prime Minister. The deal, worth Rs 937 crores, was inked in October 2005. The other two aircraft are expected within a couple of months.

The aircraft are equipped with advanced radar warning receivers that can detect missiles as well as counter-measure dispenser systems that are meant to shake off and deceive missiles. The three jets will be part of the Indian Air Force’s VVIP communication squadron and will provide protection to VVIPs in the country on the scale of the United States’ Air Force One aircraft that transports the US President.

The jets come with encrypted satellite communication systems and advanced navigation aids to enable VVIPs like the Prime Minister on board to be in constant touch with authorities on the ground in complete secrecy.

Meanwhile, vendors in the race to bag the contract for 126 multi-role medium aircraft for the Indian Air Force submitted their response to the offset requirements in the deal on Monday. India had, last year, hiked the "offset" amount from the usual 30 per cent to 50 per cent for the Rs 42,000-crore proposed deal for 126 combat aircraft.

The "offset policy" of the government in the 126-aircraft deal makes it mandatory for foreign companies to invest at least 50 per cent of the deal-amount in India. European consortium EADS and American military aviation companies Boeing and Lockheed Martin confirmed on Monday that they had submitted their responses to the offset requirements in the deal.
http://howrah.org/india_news/21357.html

 

[prithvi]

Where did Pakistan get into the equation. We sure have other things more important to take care off then buying a multi million dollar machine for the PM. I just asked a simple question, whats the reaction for? And i am sure and it is quite evident the way you guys are boosting over it that it is indeed a symbol of power, I am pretty sure PM wasn't traveling on a lower class jet or for that matter some train, I am sure that Singh had something else in mind other then just for traveling purpose.

But anyways i am off from the topic, congratulations for it.

Well it is always better to have to have dedicated aircraft. Reason being every time PM travels abroad, a jumbo 747 from the existing AI fleet is taken out and then it has to go thru painful redesigning and reconfiguring. Its a completely uneconomical process hurting AI revenue flight and also wastage of space, since using a 400 capacity Boeing 747 for 60-70 delegate teams do not make any sense. In the long run the money saved by not using the Boeing 747 will compensate some part of the cost of this aircraft...
if you wished to find various nuances of this decision you could have found this information as well....