New Delhi, Jan 10: The Indian Air Force (IAF) is strengthening its VIP fleet with four new Embraer 145 aircraft and AW101 chopppers.
The IAF's Delhi-based Communication Squadron, which has just got the first lot of three VIP role helicopters, already has four Embraer 135s. The newer aircraft, being acquired from Brazil, will have some security features similar to those in the three Boeing Business Jets (BBJs) acquired in 2009 but not the same ones.
The IAF chief, Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne, told India Strategic magazine (www.indiastrategic.in) in an interview recently that the duties of IAF's VIP unit, designated Air Headquarters Communication Squadron, had increased manifold and that the case to acquire the Embraers was now being processed.
Besides VIPs and ministers, the Embraer aircraft are also used for Chiefs of Staff of the army, navy and air force.
The aircraft can be configured for presidential or prime minister's use if the number of officials required on board is small. Otherwise, they use the BBJ, which is equipped with an office and a bedroom for the president and the prime minister in a separate enclosure.
The BBJs also have some specific hi-tech protection equipment as on the US President's Air Force One, which the US government agreed to share on the condition that their technology would not be shown or disclosed to any other country or entity.
India signed the EEUM (Enhanced End User Monitoring) agreement in this regard, stipulating the BBJs' safekeeping in well-guarded areas to prevent unauthorized access.
