Picture : Twitter / ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s non-stop flight to the United States will fly over Pakistan’s airspace to avoid Afghanistan. P Modi has left on a three-day visit to the US on Wednesday where he will address the United Nations General Assembly and attend the Quad Summit as well as hold a bilateral meet with US President Joe Biden at the White House.
A high-level delegation including National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla and top government officials are accompanying PM Modi to the US.
According to government sources, India had sought permission from Pakistan regarding the usage of Pakistan’s airspace for Prime Minister Modi’s flight to the US, for which a nod was given by Islamabad.
The aircraft carrying PM Modi and the Indian high-level delegation took off from the Indian Air Force (IAF) Technical Airbase in Delhi on Wednesday morning.
First time Air India One (AI1) the call sign of India’s VVIP Boeing aircraft has been deployed for US long haul direct flight.
The new Boeing B-777 aircraft Extra Range (ER300) aircraft, which was recently modified for VVIP guests of India is also equipped with advanced defence systems.
The B-777 will take 15 hours of non-stop flight directly to the US. As it is avoiding Afghanistan’s airspace, the flight will fly extra hours for the US trip.
Powered by twin GE90-115 engines, the aircraft is capable of reaching the speed of up to 900kmph with the ability to remain in the air for over 17 hours without refuelling.
The aircraft hosts several security-related features such as hi-tech missile defence protection suites like ‘Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures’.
The LAIRCM protects the aircraft from man-portable missiles by increases warning time for the crew. It also automatically engages countermeasures to protect itself from advanced intermediate-range missile systems.
