When watching the American president's motorcade, you may see the movements on the ground, but you might not realize what happens in the air during his travel from one place to another.
The president’s movement is not like that of any other leader it’s part of a complex security process, whether by land or air, aimed at providing tight protection through an unbreakable security circle, and it comes with a huge cost beyond imagination.
In this article, we will look at the advanced and impressive military capabilities used specifically as an airborne security convoy to protect the American president, whether he is traveling between countries or within the country itself.
It is well known that securing and protecting the American president, as the leader of the most powerful country in the world, is not an easy task. It is a complex process that involves trained personnel, along with advanced military and security equipment.
This level of security and protection remains the same for every American president, whether it is Barack Obama, Joe Biden, or the current president, Donald Trump. First, we will learn how he is protected in the air when traveling from one country to another.
When the American president wants to travel from one country to another, he boards his main aircraft, which is considered the most powerful in the world, known as "Air Force One." It is a specially modified plane with advanced features.
First, this name doesn’t refer to one specific plane, but to two giant aircraft that are always ready to safely transport the president inside the United States and abroad. The president can use one or both of them, especially when traveling with all his family members.
Air Force One plane
This plane has advanced electronic and defense systems, and it is classified as a military aircraft designed to handle any air attack. Each one is like a flying palace in the form of a giant jet, with no room for failure or breakdown even in the event of a nuclear attack on the ground.
Features of the Air Force One plane
The American president's plane looks like a civilian aircraft in appearance, but it is actually a military plane. It can turn into a fortified shelter to protect the president when needed.
It is equipped with advanced defense systems, including ballistic missile defense equipment. Its structure and windows are bulletproof, explosion-resistant, and shielded against electromagnetic pulses.
This plane has the ability to jam enemy aircraft, and it can release flares to confuse heat-seeking missiles.
In addition, the presidential plane has many sirens, and it can actually turn into a fortified bunker where the president can hide in case of a nuclear disaster on the ground. It is also capable of flying at much higher altitudes than regular commercial planes and can fly long distances, potentially for months if necessary.
The plane has the ability to refuel while flying, and it is equipped with a "special cabin" that allows the president to escape in case the plane is hijacked or faces a major threat. The cost of operating the plane is about 200,000 dollars per flying hour.
The plane also has secure communication equipment, making it a mobile command center. It has 85 phone lines, along with a set of wireless transmitters and receivers and advanced computer communication systems. Its maximum speed is close to the speed of sound, reaching about 1,000 km/h.
Interior space of the Air Force One plane
Inside the plane, the president and his companions have an area of 370 square meters spread across three levels, including a private presidential suite, a medical suite equipped with the latest medical technology, and a meeting and dining hall. It also has two small kitchens capable of preparing food for up to 100 people at a time.
The plane provides first-class hotel service, as well as two areas dedicated to journalists, senior officials, security personnel, and secretarial staff.
The "presidential suite" on the plane includes a luxurious bedroom, a bathroom, a gym, and a spacious office. The plane can carry 76 passengers, while its crew consists of 26 members who work to meet the president's needs and ensure his comfort during flights.
How is the American president's plane protected?
While the presidential plane is flying, it is monitored by hundreds of soldiers on the ground, along with a fleet of accompanying aircraft in the air. There is constant communication and a careful study of the flight path and intended destination.
The presidential plane has an incredible speed, to the point where one of the pilots of the "F-16 fighters" who accompanied it complained about not being able to match its speed during flight.
Before the presidential plane takes off, cargo planes precede it to transport the presidential limousine cars, intelligence trucks,
and sometimes the presidential helicopter known as "Marine One," which belongs to the Marine Corps, along with other equipment specifically for protecting the president during his trip.