India agrees on VVIP jet inspections by Americans

New Delhi: India has yielded to the US pressure to allow its VVIP jets, fitted with the Special Protection Suits (SPS), for the annual inspection by American technocrats. After the inspection agreement, the first of the three Boeing business jet landed here on Saturday for a formal induction in service from August 4. The jets have similar protection features as those in the United States Air Force 1, used by the American president.
India has agreed to the jets’ inspection after six months of wrangling. Pentagon had stopped the planes delivery to insist on the US Air Force officials inspect the aircraft. The move aimed to ensure that the Indians do not tinker with the technology deployed in the SPS mounted on these aircraft. Pentagon’s concern was that the technology is also used in the US president’s aircraft and it should remain secret for the latter’s safety.
The Indian Air Force has bought the three jets for the exclusive use of the president, prime ministers and heads of countries under a Rs 93,70 million (Rs 937 crores) deal that includes Rs 2,020 million (Rs 202 crores) for the SPS technology.
03/08/08 Daily Times, Pakistan

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Categories: Foreign Aug 2008, Indian Aviation- In General Aug 2008, Safety Aug 2008