In a huge boost to India, the US has agreed to sell two state-of-the-art missile defence systems to Air India One for an estimated cost of USD 190 million, a move that will raise the security of planes flying the prime minister and the president.
According to the Pentagon, the sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the US by helping to strengthen the US-Indian key. The Trump administration approved purchase of the two systems known as Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) and Self-Protection Suites (SPS) for an estimated cost of USD 190 million, the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in a notification to the Congress on Wednesday.
The Indian Government plans to buy two Boeing 777 from the national carrier Air India for this specific purpose and unlike in the past would not be used for commercial purposes. The purpose of the LAIRCM programme is to protect large aircraft from man-portable missiles. The pilot will simply be informed that a threat missile was detected and jammed.
