India's VVIP squadron to receive three refurbished Boeing Business Jets next month

New Delhi: The Indian Air Force's (IAF) VVIP squadron is set to take delivery of three Boeing Business Jets (BBJs) early next month. The aircraft will be fully armed with infra-red counter measures (IRCM). US embassy officials said they anticipated that the aircraft would be delivered with all the equipment as asked for by the IAF.

Given the speculation that there may be a hitch in the delivery of the aircraft, or in problems in installing the systems meant to accompany these aircraft, embassy officials were at pains to assuage all fears and highlight the quality of the aircraft and the systems that they would carry.

Officials emphasised that these latest technology aircraft were the best in the world.

They also said that the US wanted to assure India's national leadership of the best available protection in their air travel, which these aircraft would provide.

The three BBJs have been purchased at a price of over $937 million and have been refurbished with Large Aircraft Infra-Red Counter Measures AN/AAQ-24 LAIRCM systems that would deflect any threat from incoming missiles. These systems have cost an additional $40 million.

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

According to unnamed sources, some irritation had arisen between both parties on US insistence on carrying out physical verification of the advanced protection systems installed on the planes once they were operational in India.