US President Donald Trump has set foot in India soon for the first time ever on the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As the representatives of the two nations are set to improve the bilateral relations of the two countries, Trump¡¯s two-day stay in India marks a very important event for both the nations.
Needless to say, security arrangements of both the countries are at their peak. Among these, there is one unit that is accustomed to making such trips with the US President, securing all possible accords of the entire travel and stay of the POTUS. And in case you think they just might be unprepared on any front, here is something that will change your mind for good.
Know that the US government does not just book hotel suites and lay down routes for the US president¡¯s travel, it books entire floors of hotels these hotels, closes any access to highways and even the airport! This, however, is only a menial part of the security wraps around the POTUS, the real deal lies with the different technologies used to do so. Let us have a look at these one by one.
These are the aircrafts used to carry the President of America. Always a make by Boeing, the one carrying US President Trump is a state-of-the-art amalgamation of Boeing 747-200B commercial aircraft. That is because this model comes with top-of-the-line navigation, hardened electronic and communications equipment for protection against any electromagnetic pulse as well as extra secure communications equipment that can let the aircraft function as a mobile command center in case of an attack on the United States.
For communication outside of the aircraft, Air Force One uses multi-frequency radios for air-to-air, air-to-ground as well as satellite communications. The defence system of the aircraft is of course, classified. But it is believed that the Air Force One is equipped with radar jammers as well as a fire-shield for detecting and avoiding heat-seeking missiles and rockets. In the worst case scenario, it is even capable of starting a nuclear war.
With a total floor space of 4,000 square feet on the inside to accommodate an office, a conference room, a dining room and living quarters for the president among other setups, the Air Force One is a complete bubble for the POTUS while he is flying with an ability refuel mid-air!
Donald Trump¡¯s limousine is widely considered to be the safest car in the world. Called the ¡®Beast¡¯ and very much true to its name, the unique Cadillac is transported by the Air Force One along with the President everywhere he travels. Whenever on his trips, President Trump only travels inside the Beast.
That is because the one-of-a-kind vehicle is equipped with all the security measures for the US President. For instance, it boasts of military grade armour up to 8-inches thick on its body that can even take on projectiles. The heavy electrified doors and the five-layered windows of the Beast are capable of forming a 100% seal inside the car to even withstand chemical attacks. Even armour-piercing bullets will fail to penetrate any part of the car.
For protection against bomb attacks, steel plates have been reinforced on the chassis of the Beast. As for the tyres, Kevlar is used in their making for shred and puncture resistance while reinforcing them with steel rims.
Once inside the Beast, President Trump has a satellite phone with a direct line to the Vice President and the Pentagon just in case things go south. Accompanying features include an Oxygen supply as well as a panic button. The rear of the Beast is even equipped with a firefighting system as well as tear gas and smoke-screen dispensers.
To protect the car¡¯s fuel from catching fire, the fuel tank is armour-plated and a special foam is used with the fuel to prevent it from burning.
It is not just one Beast that carries the US President. As you might have seen in several videos or images, there is an entire caravan travelling all around the Beast protecting it on the move. As can be figured, the Beast is very heavy and can only move at a limited speed, that is where in this caravan acts as the perfect supplement.
This caravan typically includes over 40 to 50 vehicles and 100 people. Once the patrolling unit checks the route 5 mins prior to the caravan¡¯s arrival, the lead motorcycle can be seen steering the team¡¯s movement. Then there is a protective ring by the local police forces guarding what is called the ¡®secure package¡¯. The package, you guessed it, is the closest protective ring to the US President, usually a couple of Beasts create a camouflage over the US President¡¯s original vehicle.
This is not as fun as it sounds. That is because this ¡®Football¡¯ is pure power capable of bringing the doomsday on anyone on the wrong side of it. It basically is a black colour leather briefcase that accompanies the US President outside America. It is believed to house a nuclear device with a secret code for the POTUS to launch a nuclear strike on any coordinates on the planet. If activated, the signal will be pushed through an antenna on the briefcase that is linked to a satellite phone.