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Air Force One is based on a civilian airframe. Of course the Hollywood movie was full of exaggerations, but I wouldn't be surprised if the actual Air Force One

by kijin 7y ago

Air Force One is based on a civilian airframe. Of course the Hollywood movie was full of exaggerations, but I wouldn't be surprised if the actual Air Force One was reinforced in some ways to afford a certain level of protection for its precious cargo. How much could Boeing, for example, modify one of their civilian airframes to support active countermeasures and make it capable of withstanding more stressful maneuvers without altering the outside too much? Quite a lot, I would think.

avh02 7y ago
air force one and some El Al planes were/are fitted with countermeasures. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Al#Onboard_missile_defense_systems https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Al#Onboard_missile_defense_... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_VC-25 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_VC-25 >All wiring is covered with heavy shielding for protection from a nuclear electromagnetic pulse in the event of a nuclear attack. The aircraft also has electronic countermeasures (ECMs) to jam enemy radar, flares to avoid heat-seeking missiles, and chaff to avoid radar-guided missiles
- rvnx 7y ago
  I think the best countermeasure in Israel is the heavy interrogation you get when leaving the airport
  - jrockway 7y ago
    People on the ground with missile launchers don't go through airport security.
blantonl 7y ago
Probably not much can be realistically done actually. Airlines are hypersensitive to weight since that affects range and fuel costs. The action that American Airlines took to remove complementary magazines from their flights saved millions a year in fuel costs. In Air Force One's case - they probably have some active countermeasures (flares) and some electronic countermeasures (jamming) built in, but that's about it. Probably useless against a foreign state's advanced SAM capabilities. Much of the extra weight capabilities are most likely taken up by communications equipment to provide the President and staff command authority. Minus some rudimentary capabilities for low-end SAMs, Air Force One is probably just as vulnerable to being shot down as your average cargo airliner.
rjsw 7y ago
The P-8 [1] is based on a civilian airframe too, doesn't look very different to a 737 from the outside. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_P-8_Poseidon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_P-8_Poseidon

by kijin 7y ago

avh02 7y ago

air force one and some El Al planes were/are fitted with countermeasures. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Al#Onboard_missile_defense_systems https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Al#Onboard_missile_defense_... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_VC-25 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_VC-25 >All wiring is covered with heavy shielding for protection from a nuclear electromagnetic pulse in the event of a nuclear attack. The aircraft also has electronic countermeasures (ECMs) to jam enemy radar, flares to avoid heat-seeking missiles, and chaff to avoid radar-guided missiles

rvnx 7y ago
I think the best countermeasure in Israel is the heavy interrogation you get when leaving the airport
- jrockway 7y ago
  People on the ground with missile launchers don't go through airport security.

blantonl 7y ago

Probably not much can be realistically done actually. Airlines are hypersensitive to weight since that affects range and fuel costs. The action that American Airlines took to remove complementary magazines from their flights saved millions a year in fuel costs. In Air Force One's case - they probably have some active countermeasures (flares) and some electronic countermeasures (jamming) built in, but that's about it. Probably useless against a foreign state's advanced SAM capabilities. Much of the extra weight capabilities are most likely taken up by communications equipment to provide the President and staff command authority. Minus some rudimentary capabilities for low-end SAMs, Air Force One is probably just as vulnerable to being shot down as your average cargo airliner.

rjsw 7y ago

The P-8 [1] is based on a civilian airframe too, doesn't look very different to a 737 from the outside. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_P-8_Poseidon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_P-8_Poseidon