Indian Air Force One unveiled

India too now has an Air Force One fleet.

As many as three Business Boeing Jets modelled on the US President’s Air Force One have been inducted into the Communication Squadron of the Indian Air Force (IAF), on April 1, 2009.

The jets have been named Rajdoot, Rajhans and Rajkamal. President Pratibha Patil inducted the new jets into the IAF.

She also undertook the maiden flight, on the Rajdoot jet to Lilabari, in Assam, as part of a four-day trip to Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

The President was accompanied by 20 officials on the trip.

The Rajdoot jet displayed the name of India, with a red beacon on top and an Indian flag in the front.

“It will be more business-like with the journeys cut short. I can now give more time to study,” President Pratibha Patil was quoted as saying.

The squadron would carry the President, the Vice President, the Prime Minister, the service chiefs and other dignitaries.

Sources said that while one aircraft will be dedicated for the president and the prime minister, another will be used to ferry special guests and senior ministers, while the third will be on standby.

The IAF has said that the arrival of the aircraft brings in the finest aircraft to the squadron.

Special Protection Suite (SPS), added passenger comfort and lower noise level are said to be features that make the aircraft unique. The IAF has purchased the aircraft from the US at a cost of Rs

9.34 billion each. All the three Business Boeing Jets have been equipped with state-of-the-art security gadgets and the latest communication systems.

The arrival of the new aircraft comes nine months behind schedule. It is being said that the delay had been due to the last minute integration problems

of the missile defence system and sorting out of end-user verification laws with the US. All hassles have been sorted out. The IAF is currently

undertaking extensive test flights across the country and carrying out complete system checks on the three Business Boeing Jets.

Complete with a spacious VVIP cabin that can carry a total of 46 passengers in four different zones, the new jets are equipped with sophisticated

electronic countermeasures, a protection suite and chaff dispensers to ward off missile threats, a secure satellite and VHF communication suite and

other security gadgets, said a media report.

The aircraft are powered by two CFM-56 engines jointly made by the US General Electric and the French Snecma. They can cruise a speed of 41,000 feet at 450 knots.