India to get VVIP jets soon with armed protection

NEW DELHI: India will get delivery of its three VVIP Boeing Business Jets early next month fully armed with infra-red counter measures (IRCM) scotching speculations that there was a hitch in their delivery.

"We anticipate that the aircraft will be delivered shortly with all the equipment India desires," US Embassy officials said here on Thursday.

Asked about the status of the delivery of the aircraft which was scheduled for early June, officials said: "India has contracted with Boeing for purchase of aircrafts for its highranking officials."

"These latest technology aircrafts are the best in the world and US wants to assure India's national leadership of the best available protection in their air travel which these aircrafts will provide."

The three BBJs have been purchased at a price of over USD 937 million and would be refurbished with another USD 40 million Large Aircraft Infra-Red Counter Measures Systems AN/AAQ-24 LAIRCM to deflect any threat from incoming missiles.

According to Defence Ministry sources here, the pilots of the IAF's VVIP Squadron have already undergone training on the aircraft in US and systems have been put in place at Palam Technical Area for the operation of these business jets.

"There were minor hitches," sources said on US insistence on carrying out physical verification of the advanced protection system installed on the planes once they were operational in India.