Indian Air Force 1....

[Schumi - Red Baron]

President Pratibha Patil will do the honours first by taking a ride on the Indian Air Force's Boeing Business Jets (BBJs) from the Palam air base that day, IAF officials said here on Monday.

Self Protection Suites include radar warning receivers, missile-approach warning systems and counter-measure systems. The aircraft would have the capability to shoot metal chaff and flares to deviate radar-guided missiles and heat-seeking missiles off the track.

The three jets, bought from the United States last year at a cost of Rs 734 crore, has an additional Rs 200-crore Self Protection Suites (SPS) for electronic warfare integrated onto the aircraft to provide greater security from enemy missiles.

It is patterned on the US president's office-in-the-sky.


April 1 date for President with business jets (http://www.zeenews.com/nation/2009-03-16/515323news.html)

Isn't it excessive spending... They ordered 3 aircraft... One for the President, one for PM and one for VIP... They should have ordered and used 2 planes efficiently and stopped the extra expenditure i.e 3rd...:ugh:

During these times, when the GDP is below 5 for the first time since WW2, they are spending like crazy... I know the order was given last year but that's still crazy....

Just wasting tax payers money for personal use...:{

[alouette3]

Ever heard of the 'Million Dollar Spit In The Ocean'?
That is what it is all about.Taxpayer's money is wasted everyday ,around the world,to the tune of billions.Look around you and you will see it is true.
I for one am happy that the leaders of the largest democracy in the world get to ride in a well equipped and protected aircraft.
Perhaps you did not know that the VIP squadron with 737's and HS 748 and Dorniers and Mi17 helicopters has existed for decades.Besides, I don't think the BBJs are earmarked as you claim. They probably can use anyone of the three for VVIP flights and have the other two as standby and for planned maintenance and out of service time.Makes complete sense to me.

Alt3

[Schumi - Red Baron]

Mate, what about the real "heros" who save and defend the country.... NSG (National Security Guard) does not have their own aircraft... They had 3 helicopter's but one was destroyed while other two cannot be used because of the condition they are in (The attack on Mumbai underlined that).... Don't they deserve good equipment...

I pay tax, so that government uses that money for the development of the country.... Strengthening of our forces... Providing them with sufficient equipments... Building proper infrastructure.... Not for the wish and whims of some people who want to enjoy their life on our hard earned money...:(... I highly respect DR. A.P.J. Kalam, ex-president of India... He had a vision and implemented on those... He stopped the excessive expenditure of the government...

I believe that the AI and the IAF planes earlier used were good enough... On one hand the government is stopping some projects due to lack of money and on other hand purchasing new fancy toys (the refinery in Punjab, owned by government and L.N. Mittal might stop due to lack of cash and incentives by government of India and punjab)....:ugh:

[alouette3]

I will not engage you in a political discussion about the leaders we choose and the way they spend our money.Futile and fruitless and well outside the realm of this forum or thread.
All I will say is that you seem to have a bee in the bonnet about anything and everything that is remotely connected to the Govt. Of India. Not a great group of people,admittedly, especially the bureaucrats. However, to slam everything they do is counterproductive and useless.
Let us agree to disagree.
Alt3.

[saperaa]

VIP sqdn just replaced 3 boeing 737-200 which were in service since 20years+ with Indian Airforce-1.
today it is the best in the world,better than USA AF-1, Because experienced pilots behind the machines are going to fly them with latest equipment on board.
well Canada can ask India if they also require since canada doesnot have any.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8Kf0lV1u8A&NR=1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8Kf0lV1u8A&NR=1)

and this time and region security concerns are taken care off to a great extent.
Trained pilots in India on terror mission- LATEST NEWS-The Economic Times (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4347835.cms)

[Schumi - Red Baron]

@alt3

Mate, i completely agree with you... But it's not that i am against the Indian government, it's just that I think that the government and it's officials didn't got their priorities right...:sad:

[saperaa]

@ Schumi red baron

@alt3

Mate, i completely agree with you... But it's not that i am against the Indian government, it's just that I think that the government and it's officials didn't got their priorities right...http://static.pprune.org/images/smilies/puppy_dog_eyes.gif
http://static.pprune.org/images/statusicon/user_offline.gif

i think govt priorities are right:ok:

see this media report.
Trained pilots in India on terror mission-News-Videos-The Times of India (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videoshow/4348083.cms)