Air Force 1!!!.......... Details

I have heard that Air Force 1 has some amazing capabilities as far as missile defense. Anybody have anything to add or subtract from this claim? I have also heard that it has electronic jamming capabilities and the like, even so far as to say that it does in fact carry some sort of anti-missile missiles!!??

I am sure that most of this is speculation but there always seems to be a little truth in a rumor you know. It would seem to make sense that this aircraft is not all that vulnearble and would have some sort of standoff capability, but ?????

Anyway, noy trying to perpetuate a rumor, just seeking some knowledge that may be out there from you!?

Thanks for the help........Peace, Mondo

posted by Mondogiwa

I have heard that Air Force 1 has some amazing capabilities as far as missile defense. I have also heard that it has electronic jamming capabilities and the like, even so far as to say that it does in fact carry some sort of anti-missile missiles!!?? Thanks for the help . . Peace, Mondo [Edited by Don W]

Perhaps 15, maybe 20 years ago, El Al, the Israeli airline, added the rudimentary - then - anti heat seeking protection of flares to their planes. At that time, the heat seeking missile was the most commonly available. One of those is the Stinger. Launched from the operator’s shoulder, it has a very limited range. Each plane carried a series of launchers, maybe 2 or 3 on each side, towards the rear, total 4 or 6, and each launcher loaded with maybe 10 or 12 flares. Total available defense flares, about 40 to 72. I am unaware whether El Al has ever used that defense. I’m pretty sure without knowing the AF1 would have those.

More sophisticated missiles have evolved. Unless you are employing the laser guided missile where the operator has to locate the target and put a laser beam on it for the missile to follow, you are left with mini-radar or a radio receiver homing in on frequencies the aircraft are known to use.

I feel sure, again without knowing, that the AF provides a CAP - Combat Air Patrol - service for AF1. I’d guess there are 2 or 3 F15s and 3 or 4 F16s tagging along on each flight. Operating in relays. On foreign trips, I would not be surprised to see a “dummy” 747 flying a few minutes ahead of AF1 to “sweep” the path. And etc.


[edit on 2/26/2007 by donwhite]

Thanks Don,

Yeah, I have witnessed the escorts and agree that they are always present as well as the fact that there are different aircraft that could be, "dummy" Air Force 1's.
I would just think that there would be systems on that aircraft besides the chaff and flare system that you are describing.
Then again, since he/she does not really run the U.S., maybe it's congress that we should be asking if they have a similar system surrounding D.C.?

Seriously though, I know there has to be something very technologically advanced on AF1. Thanks again for the reply, nice post.

Peace, Mondo

Originally posted by Mondogiwa
I have heard that Air Force 1 has some amazing capabilities as far as missile defense. Anybody have anything to add or subtract from this claim? I have also heard that it has electronic jamming capabilities and the like, even so far as to say that it does in fact carry some sort of anti-missile missiles!!??

I am sure that most of this is speculation but there always seems to be a little truth in a rumor you know. It would seem to make sense that this aircraft is not all that vulnearble and would have some sort of standoff capability, but ?????

Anyway, noy trying to perpetuate a rumor, just seeking some knowledge that may be out there from you!?

Thanks for the help........Peace, Mondo

My 2 cents

It is a common misconception that air force 1 is 1 plane.
Air force 1 is ANY plane the president is in at any given time and Marine 1 is ANY Helicopter he is in at any given time.

Just my 2 cents


Regards
AlBeMeT

Partially correct.

Airforce One is the call sign assigned to any Air Force aircraft when the President is onboard.

Marine One is the call sign assigned to any US Marines aircraft when the President is onboard.

Executive One is the call sign assigned to any civilian aircraft when the President is onboard.

Navy One is the call sign assigned to any Navy aircraft when the President is onboard.

Army One is the call sign assigned to any Army aircraft when the President is onboard.

The two 747-200s that are used by the President are actually VC-25As

posted by AlBeMet

posted by Mondogiwa
I have heard that Air Force 1 has some amazing capabilities as far as missile defense. Thanks for the help . . Peace, Mondo

It is a common misconception that air force 1 is 1 plane. Air force 1 is ANY plane the president is in at any given time and Marine 1 is ANY Helicopter he is in at any given time. Just my 2 cents Regards AlBeMet [Edited by Don W]

You are, strictly speaking, absolutely correct, Mr A/B/M. It is also true that the gigantic Boeing 747, custom modified at a price that is still a state secret but has been estimated to be $200 million is the plane most people think is AF1. Befitting our imperial presidency. Equal to any Arab sheik’s traveling throne room. America’s ‘proletarian’ version of the royal yacht, Britannia. Just imagine, presidents like Franklin Roosevelt and Dwight Eisenhower were content to fly in converted Douglass C54s or a Lockheed C121 Constellation. But not today.

Our chief executive reminds me of the old days in Moscow, when the Chairman of the Communist Party traveled in a high speed convoy of 6 or 8 black ZIV limousines. One lane in the center of the Moscow’s main streets was set aside exclusively for the High Commies, at all times. If those limos looked vaguely familiar, they should, they were made from old Packard dies bought legally. I really don't like those GM armored Yukons used by the WH.


[edit on 2/26/2007 by donwhite]

Bet its got an AM/FM casette radio, mabey even two!

Mondo and others

several years ago i had the wonderfull privilege of working on the Royal Flight of Oman in particular his very nice 747-SP.

i was mainly working on the mirts system, an infra red missile tracking system. i was told at the time that the 747 airforce one also had a similar system,

and here are some hi-res links:
www.airliners.net...

www.airliners.net...

the `bump` behind the cockpit is the MIRTS .

as a side note , the pure luxury on board was AMAZING !! 3 inch thick carpet , 4 poster beds ....gold everywhere !! amazing what you can put onboard a 747 if you have the money !

take care
snoopyuk

[edit on 26-2-2007 by snoopyuk]

On foreign trips, I would not be surprised to see a “dummy” 747 flying a few minutes ahead of AF1 to “sweep” the path. And etc.


[edit on 2/26/2007 by donwhite]

I can agree with the "dummy" 747 I was over at Fairchild AFB in Spokane, Washington with my CAP (Civil Air Patrol) Squadron getting a tour of the base and meeting people. And on our way to the tower we passed a 747 that looked EXACTLY like Air Force One. It had the paint job like it. But when I asked the personnel at the tower the said that the president or vice-president weren't there. So either Air Force One was really there for some odd reason (Highly doubt it) or it was a "dummy". Anyway just posting what I saw.


Falcon out...

I watched a documentary on AF1 ahile back...it showed off a lot of the plane...I was suprised by how "1990" it looked. I mean, I know its not a new aircraft or anything...but I figured they would keep them modern looking. Its known that during 9/11 Bush got on AF1, and was very frustrated by the lack of communications that plane had to offer...which has since been modernized.

I believe it does have flares on it. and the its able to withstand a EM Pulse (like from nukes).

It does not have any sort of laser on it, that could shoot down enemy missiles.

Are you sure it has no laser that can shoot down enemy missiles? They aren't very big, I've seen the mountings, they are about 20 cm across. The actual lasers weren't on it because they were at least partially secret I assume.

When I say "shoot down" I suppose it would be better to say "disable". And the ones I saw were on Hercules, so AF1 most have them.

Originally posted by donwhite
On foreign trips, I would not be surprised to see a “dummy” 747 flying a few minutes ahead of AF1 to “sweep” the path. And etc.
[edit on 2/26/2007 by donwhite]

It's called SAM 27000 or SAM 28000. There are 2 VC-25A in the Presidential Air Fleet. They always fly together, so the President can change planes in case of a problem with the primary aircraft. Until the planes land, only the Secret Service and the crews know which aircraft actually has the President on it.

Tim

posted by Apex

Are you sure it has no laser that can shoot down enemy missiles? They aren't very big, I've seen the mountings, they are about 20 cm [7.8 inches] across. The actual lasers weren't on it because I assume they partially secret. When I say "shoot down" I suppose it would be better to say "disable." The ones I saw were on [C130] Hercules, so AF1 most have them. [Edited by Don W]

Help! I think our current anti-missile defense system utilizes a laser beamed towards the incoming missile to either “shot it down” or to “disable” it. I need anyone to correct my “thinking.” I am of the opinion that the power of a laser must follow the same rules as sunlight, that is, that it is inversely proportional to the square of the distance. From source to target. Because incoming ballistic missiles would incorporate a re-entry heat shield, it seems unlikely to me that a laser could shoot down or disable such a missile. Please explain my deficiencies in reasoning here.

posted by Ghost01

It's called SAM 27000 or SAM 28000. There are 2 VC-25A [Boeing 747?] in the Presidential Air Fleet. They always fly together, so the President can change planes in case of a problem with the primary aircraft. Until the planes land, only the Secret Service and the [air] crews know which aircraft actually has the President on it. Tim
[Edited by Don W]

My understanding is that only the Israeli state-owned airline El Al has the anti-missile defense system on all its planes. I would guess the planes that regularly transport the leaders of most of the world’s countries would also have that provision. And such moguls of commerce as Bill Gates and Warren Buffet? Please up-date me.

[edit on 3/2/2007 by donwhite]

Originally posted by donwhite

posted by Apex

Are you sure it has no laser that can shoot down enemy missiles? They aren't very big, I've seen the mountings, they are about 20 cm [7.8 inches] across. The actual lasers weren't on it because I assume they partially secret. When I say "shoot down" I suppose it would be better to say "disable." The ones I saw were on [C130] Hercules, so AF1 most have them.

Help! I think our current anti-missile defense system utilizes a laser beamed towards the incoming missile to either “shot it down” or to “disable” it. I need anyone to correct my “thinking.” I am of the opinion that the power of a laser must follow the same rules as sunlight, that is, that it is inversely proportional to the square of the distance. From source to target. Because incoming ballistic missiles would incorporate a re-entry heat shield, it seems unlikely to me that a laser could shoot down or disable such a missile. Please explain my deficiencies in reasoning here.

In this context, I was meaning the smaller missiles that would be fired at AF1, not a ballistic missile. Lasers are more directed than sunlight as well, so it shouldn't spread out, the problem is it ionising the air it goes through (I think) or being absorbed by the air it goes through.

The plane can be operated as a military command center in the event of an incident such as a nuclear attack. Operational modifications include aerial refueling capability and anti-aircraft missile countermeasures. The electronics on board are connected with approximately 238 miles (383 km) of wiring, twice that of a regular 747. All wiring is covered with heavy shielding for protection from an electromagnetic pulse in the event of a nuclear attack. The planes also have electronic countermeasures (ECMs) to jam enemy radar, flares to avoid heat-seeking missiles, and chaff to avoid radar-guided missiles. Many of Air Force One's other capabilities are classified for security reasons. Wikipedia.com

But aside from that no idea. About the decoys there are two planes used with their tail #'s on them so if you know the #'s you can tell if it is a decoy 28000 and 29000 although any plane with the president on board becomes known as AF1.

Airforce 1
www.af.mil...
www.fas.org...

here is some nice pictures of the VC-25
www.andrews.af.mil...

The system mounted on the VC-25s is actually mounted on many of the VIP planes from Andrews. It's mounted right above the engines and is a detector. It detects the emissions from an IR missile seeker. It doesn't have the capability to disable them, only to detect them and put an alert in the cockpit for the pilots.

I am Aeronautical Student and would like to request if any
body have a colour photo of B747-SP a/c cockpit A40-S0.

As require for m college project. Thanks