Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
President Donald Trump flew back from a NATO summit in Turkey on an older Air Force One aircraft instead of the newly retrofitted Boeing 747-800 gifted by Qatar, a last-minute switch that raised fresh questions about the new jet’s security systems. The change came as the US and Iran resumed trading strikes, less than a day after the US military carried out large strikes in Iran in response to its attacks on merchant shipping in the region.
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Trump gave little clarity on the switch. He said he would travel on the older aircraft “for old time’s sake” and indicated that both planes would make an unscheduled stop at Royal Air Force Mildenhall in the UK. In a social media post, he said the newer aircraft would stop there so military personnel could “tour the Aircraft”, while he would return on a plane previously used as Air Force One.
When asked at a news conference whether security concerns had led to the decision, Trump did not directly answer. Instead, referring to Iran, he said he was “No. 1 on the list for killing”. When pressed again, he said he would be “going home by normal methods” while the newer plane would be shown to troops.
The switch renewed scrutiny of the new aircraft, which the US spent USD 400 million to retrofit. Images released since the plane was unveiled suggest it does not have some of the missile detection and countermeasure systems fitted on the older aircraft. Asked whether the missing systems had anything to do with the change, the US Air Force referred questions to the White House. White House spokesman Steven Cheung said, “The new Air Force One is a state-of-the-art aircraft that has been fitted with high-level security protocols that ensure the safety of the President and his staff.” He added, “As the President has said recently, there are many enemies of America who have their sights on him, and we use every tool at our disposal- including distraction and misdirection – to address those threats.”
Trump left Turkey aboard one of the older Boeing VC-25A aircraft that have carried presidents for more than three decades. Consumer flight trackers were unable to follow its transponder early in the flight after take-off, indicating it may have been temporarily disabled by the crew, a security measure used when the president travels to and from high-risk areas. Other leaders’ flights, including those from Germany and the UK, remained trackable. Flight trackers showed that the modified Qatari aircraft had left Turkey earlier on Wednesday and landed at RAF Mildenhall later in the day.
Iran shares a border with Turkey and has missiles and drones with enough range to cover the roughly 800-mile, or 1,300-kilometre, distance to Turkey, including some Shahed drones and Shahab ballistic missiles. But, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Iran does not have weapons capable of effectively striking England from about 2,500 miles, or 4,000 kilometres away.
The US Air Force has earlier said it had to prioritise only some of the required upgrades to bring the Qatari jet, known as the “bridge” aircraft, into service quickly. It said the rapid conversion was done “without accepting any risk regarding security, safety, or secure communications”, but acknowledged that “several highly complex engineering modifications required for the final Air Force One aircraft were intentionally excluded from the Bridge aircraft”. Jeremiah Gertler, a senior analyst at Teal Group, had earlier told The Associated Press that the absence of countermeasure systems and what appeared to be fewer communications antennas suggested the aircraft was better suited for domestic use. Trump first flew on the Qatari jet on a trip to North Dakota last week.
The current Air Force One aircraft were built near the end of the Cold War and were hardened against the effects of a nuclear blast. They also carry anti-missile countermeasures, an onboard operating room and air-to-air refuelling capability, though that has never been used with a president on board. Two Boeing jets being modified as permanent replacements have been delayed and are now expected in 2028. The aircraft swap on Trump’s return from Turkey has again drawn attention to the role and readiness of the interim Qatari jet.
With PTI Inputs
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
