In 2016, two Boeing 777-300ERs were selected as SESF (VVIP transport).[3] The new aircraft, with specially-designed liveries, entered service in October 2020, replacing the Boeing 747-400s operated for the missions by Air India. Unlike the 747s which were commercial aircraft, the newly inducted aircraft are military vessels formally owned and operated by the Indian Air Force. They bear no Air India markings and have no commercial dual-use. However, under a special contract, they will be maintained by Air India Engineering Services Limited (AIESL), which has experience maintaining the Boeing 777 series aircraft for Air India's commercial fleet.
The aircraft are fitted with encrypted satellite communication facilities and advanced navigation aids, an advanced missile warning system, a missile deflecting shield and electronic countermeasures so as to provide protection from any ground-based or airborne threats and flares and glares for misleading the missile. They are capable of long-range travel removing the need for air-to-air refuelling (which is a feature on the VC-25As though they have not been used at all in their service) . The 777-300ERs’ onboard electronics include about 238 miles of wiring (twice the amount found in a normal 777). The heavy shielding is crucial to protect the wiring and crucial electronics from the electromagnetic pulse associated with a nuclear blast.[4]
Indian Air Force BBJ 737 which was used as Air India One for domestic and short distance travels before Boeing 777-300ER (Air India One)
At a Boeing facility in Fort Worth, Texas, two ex- Air India aircraft (VT-ALV and VT-ALW, now registered as K7066 and K7067 respectively) were specially outfitted with missile defence and countermeasures dispensing systems, including large aircraft infrared countermeasures (LAIRCM) self-protection suites (SPS).
On Air India One flights, the President is designated as VIP-1, the Vice-President as VIP-2, and the Prime Minister as VIP-3. The BBJs have a four class configuration. For VIPs 1, 2 and 3, an executive enclosure in the aircraft includes an office and a bedroom. All other passengers aboard Air India One are required to wear colour-coded identity cards at all times. Members of the official delegation (at the rank of Joint Secretary to the Government of India and above) are tagged in purple and sit in first class. Personnel of the Special Protection Group are also tagged in purple to provide proximate security to the Prime Minister, and may carry close combat weapons for the duration of flights. Accompanying officials (passengers of rank below Joint Secretary) are tagged in pink, and sit in business class equivalent seats. Support staff, including cooks and butlers, and other security personnel (not including the Special Protection Group) are tagged in red, while journalists in the press pool are tagged in yellow. Both red and yellow-tagged passengers sit in economy class equivalent seats.[5]
While Ministers of the Union and senior staff officers of the Indian Armed Forces may use smaller aircraft for official travel, the 777-300ERs are exclusively used by the President, Vice-President and Prime Minister.[6][7] Additional Indian Air Force VIP Aircraft such as the B737 BBJ and ERJ-135 are also used by many government dignitaries (including the Prime Minister) for domestic and international medium-haul travel.
List of VIP aircraft
Indian Air Force has a fleet of six Boeing 737s (Business Boeing Jets (BBJ)). Three named and three unnamed for Domestic Travel of VIPs.
Namely-
K5012 : 36106 :Rajdoot
K5013 : 36107 : Rajhans
K5014 : 36108 : Rajkamal
K2412 : MSN 23036
K2413 : MSN 23037
K3187 : MSN 20483
Rajdoot is used by Prime Minister and the other two Rajkamal and Rajhans are used by President and Vice president respectively. They are luxurious but not as secure as the Boeing 777-300ERs (K7066 & K7067), but are still competent.
These airplanes are also used for foreign visits to neighbouring countries like Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
For visiting military areas or places with no airplane landing facilities, IAF's Mil Mi-17 is used.
Other than these VIP transport of IAF there are four Embraer Legacy 600 that are used by Home, Finance, Defence and External affairs ministers respectively.
Meghadoot (K601) - Home minister.
Vayudoot (K602) - External affairs minister.
Nabhdoot (K603) - Finance minister.
Gagandoot (K604) - Defence minister.
Incidents
On 17 December 2009, Air India One, a Boeing 747-400 (registered as VT-EVA), operating as an executive flight for Prime MinisterManmohan Singh from Delhi to Copenhagen, was hit by a food delivery trolley shortly before it was scheduled for takeoff. The Prime Minister took off on a substitute Boeing 747-400 aircraft after a delay of 3 hours.[8]
