New Delhi: After a delay of two months due to COVID-19 pandemic, India is all set to take delivery of VVIP Boeing-777 aircraft by the next week, said government officials.
"The two Boeing 700-300s were scheduled to arrive in India by June 30 and July 30 but given the current situation, one of them will arrive by next week and the other will land by the end of this year," they said.
A team of senior officers from Air India, IAF and security agencies have reached the US to complete formalities and bring the aircraft India.
These planes were taken from Air India's fleet in 2018 for modifications at Boeing's facility in Dallas (USA) for VVIP travel, by the President, the Vice-President and the Prime Minister.
The three dignitaries -- who presently fly in Air India's Boeing-747 planes that have the capability of flying for only 10 hours -- will now be flying in the refurbished B777-300ER, which can fly for 17 hours non-stop.
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The cost of these two aircraft is estimated at around Rs 8,458 crore.
These highly customised aircraft are fitted with advanced defence systems and reconfigured cabin. The aircraft will be equipped with advanced integrated defensive electronic warfare suite and Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAICRM) dispensing system which allows the aircraft to detect and jam incoming missiles.
As per the leaked pictures of the refurbished B777-300ER, the plane features India written in English and Hindi on both sides, along with the national emblem in the center.
The officials confirmed that the aircraft will be operated by the Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots and not Air India. After their arrival, these planes will be de-registered by Air India and handed over to the IAF.
