3 exec jets to ferry VVIPs

The Centre on Tuesday approved plans to purchase three Boeing 737-700 executive business jets, to ferry VVIPs on long-haul flights.

Equipped with self-protection suites that will make these aircraft difficult targets for missiles, the deal will be worth over Rs 1,000 crore—the jets will be delivered by January 2009. The three planes will replace the 22-year old Boeing 737-200s currently used. The announcement, after a CCS meeting on Tuesday, comes at the time New Delhi is preparing to receive five Brazilian-made Embraer Legacy business jets, ordered by the previous NDA government, to be operated by the IAF’s Communication Squadron and the BSF.