Modi's special aircraft landing next June, may be called Air Force One -The Asian Age

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two brand-new special aircraft that will reach India next year may be placed under the Indian Air Force rather than Air India, two South Block officials said, citing a proposal that is under discussion in the government.

The two long-haul Boeing 777-300ER aircraft are being customized at Boeing's Dallas facility and are expected to arrive in New Delhi in June 2020, complete with missile defense systems that will make the aircraft as secure as the Boeing 747-200B used by US President Donald Trump, reports Hindustan Times.

It will be India's first dedicated aircraft for the three dignitaries - the President, Vice President and Prime Minister - who usually travel abroad on an aircraft chartered.  from the state-run airline, Air India. For shorter trips, they use planes from Indian Air Force's Communications Squadron's VVIP fleet.

The Boeing 777 aircraft will also be the first Indian plane to be equipped with Special Protection Suite that can jam enemy radar frequencies, divert heat-seeking missiles and intercept advanced intermediate range missile systems without intervention by the crew.

In a notification to the Congress this year, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency said the missile defense system deal, worth US $ 190 million, would "facilitate a more robust capability into areas of increased missile threats".