What kind of weaponry does Air Force One have?

I google searched for air force one on ats & didnt find anything

I've always been fascinated with what type of weaponry has to be on Air Force one


I've tried googling for air force one weaponry and didnt find much but a few pictures with some weird holographic thing under the wing and it didnt interest me much.

Im just curious if anyone here has any speculation on what is aboard AF1

I'm pretty sure that Air Force 1 has some sort of air to air missile on board that it could use if needed. And since the information you seek is classified, that would be why you couldn't find anything searching on google.

Some of the most interesting parts of the plane -- it's advanced avionics and defenses -- are classified. But the Air Force asserts the two planes are definitely military aircraft, designed to withstand an air attack. Among other things, the plane is outfitted with electronic counter measures (ECM) to jam enemy radar. The plane can also eject flares to throw heat-seeking missiles off course

people.howstuffworks.com...

This leads me to believe there has to be a heat seeking missile on board, just in case. Also if anything happened and it actually ran out of missiles, there would be air support that would come in as soon as possible. There aare always pilots just waiting to see some action.

None to my knowledge. For protection it has fighters to accompany

I'd say an extensive ECM suite to jamm missiles.
CHAFF and FLARES would also be carried in large numbers.
And of course fighters wouldnt be to far away at all.

It does not have any exotic defense systems like missiles (or escape pods) but it does likely have an ECM, ECCM and EW suite along with flares, chaff, DIRCM/LAIRCM a missile warning suite and perhaps even a few ALE-50's. Not to mention it is likely fully NBC proof and has been reinforced to withstand the effects of a nuclear blast better. And of course the fighters...

[edit on 8-5-2007 by WestPoint23]

I knew I couldnt find much on google... I just wanted your opinions on what could be on board

Also-Is there a "air force one" for the presidents of other countries?

If its any comparison, Queen Elizabeth has a Royal Train that has been specially outfitted to withstand even the most deadly attack of 'leaves on the line' and is equipped with state-of-the art tea-making facilities that can make the perfect Royal cuppa even during a sustained NBC attack. What does remain as undiscussed and allegedly classified though is how unlike any other British train, the Queen is never told there will be a Royal bus-replacement service as the train is engineered to such high-tolerances that it is able to arrive at any given station destination in the UK on time!

Actually you are all wrong! Air Force 1 does indeed carry TWO onboard weapon systems.

First, it is fitted with the latest in temporal disruptor technology. Every time the president travels to a conference or important event, history changes. Why else do you think Queen Elizabeth is now well over 250 years old?

Second, Dick Cheney with a shotgun and duck whistle.

LEE.

[edit on 10-5-2007 by thebozeian]

Originally posted by thebozeian
Second, Dick Cheney with a shotgun and duck whistle.

Dick Cheney with a shot gun and duck whistle!

I lke that one! Now, serously, Air Force one doesn't carry and leathel defenses on board. However the aircraft does have a classified ECM suite built into it.

Tim

none of those vehicles are any match to the Popemobile

Originally posted by thebozeian
First, it is fitted with the latest in temporal disruptor technology. Every time the president travels to a conference or important event, history changes. Why else do you think Queen Elizabeth is now well over 250 years old?

Oh, your wrong, the queen is older than that, I thought she was a Lord of the Rings Elf, so has delayed aging, and as such is using her current name, rather than some unpronounceable gobbledygook.

Anyway I would expect AF 1 to be protected from everything modern society can conceivably throw at it, though a complete fool should be able to get in it, as everyone underestimates the ingenuity of a complete fool.

Wait, thats already happened.

Actually, there is no specific jet called "Air Force One".

Air Force One is the designation for whatever jet the President is riding in at the time. Thus, if Bush were to be riding around in a dinky little Cessna, it would be called Air Force One. If he landed it at a base, hopped in a F-16, then flew that, that F-16 would be referred to as Air Force One.

So, in answer to the OP's question, the weapons on Air Force One are specific to whichever plane the President is flying in at the time. It might be as harmless as "none", and it might be as dangerous as Dick Cheney with a shotgun, or somewhere in between, just depends on the bird.

[edit on 5/10/2007 by thelibra]

Remote monitoring with Scalar Weapons is all that is needed.

Originally posted by thelibra
Actually, there is no specific jet called "Air Force One".

Air Force One is the designation for whatever jet the President is riding in at the time. Thus, if Bush were to be riding around in a dinky little Cessna, it would be called Air Force One. If he landed it at a base, hopped in a F-16, then flew that, that F-16 would be referred to as Air Force One.

Nearly correct.

Airforce One is the designation given to any USAF aircraft the President is aboard, and the following designations also exist:

Marine One (Marine Corp)

Navy One (used once)

Army One (shared frequently with Marine One prior to 1976, when the Marinorp took over full duties)

Coast Guard One (not yet used)

Executive One (civilian, for example your Cessna, but its never been used despite Nixon flying in a civilian aircraft during his term and that aircraft used its standard civilian designation)

Originally posted by thelibra
Actually, there is no specific jet called "Air Force One".

Technically yes but for all intent and purposes VC-25A (28000 and 29000) are the main jets known and used as "AF1". The OP may not have know this but his query was directed toward these two aircrafts...

Haha, I like the Dick Cheney joke.

They did have a program on Nat Geo about AF-1 and talked a little about the defensive capabilities.

They hinted that the extent of their defense were EW and chaff, and seemed to avoid or not answer questions about missiles or offensive weaponry.

Of course the key point is that it's classified. If I had to guess, I'd say there's nothing that prevents the plane from having some kind of offensive countermeasures. They usually have an air-tight contingency plan.

So imagine if they discovered that another plane was on a head-on course with them. It would be remiss of the SS not to have some on-board method of disrupting the incoming plane's flight. What that might be I have no idea.

I'd expect the pilot would appreciate at least being able to employ a gun, if not a missile (which can malfunction creating perhaps greater overall risk), but that's just a WAG.

It may be that they fly all the time with a full escort, including a high flying radar plane dedicated to them, as well as near and far jet escorts. In that case they might not have offensive weaponry since standing and fighting could increase risk. Better to practice running.

I wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't some sort of weaponry that could be retrofitted. Maybe something has but they've never used it.

Yes I meant the 28k & 29k boeings....


How about the marine 1 heli, any special type of weaponry of that do you think?

Originally posted by Badge01


So imagine if they discovered that another plane was on a head-on course with them. It would be remiss of the SS not to have some on-board method of disrupting the incoming plane's flight. What that might be I have no idea.

The VC-25s have no onboard offensive capability, they are under close watch at all times.

If an aircraft were to approach them, and it didnt respond to requests for it to alter its course, then all the VC-25 has to do is turn away from that aircraft and open its throttles.

The Boeing 747 is one of the fastest widebodies in existence, by doing that they would easily give any ground based interceptor force hours to do their thing.

When not escorted by its own USAF escort, the USAF are under agreement with the local airforce to provide an escort or intercept on request - and most western nations agree to this, which is why you see AF1 approaching London Heathrow with no fighter escort.

Originally posted by RichardPrice

The VC-25s have no onboard offensive capability, they are under close watch at all times.

If an aircraft were to approach them, and it didnt respond to requests for it to alter its course, then all the VC-25 has to do is turn away from that aircraft and open its throttles.

With all due respect, if you are not part of the Presidential detail then there's no way you could know if there are offensive capabilities.

I said that their best option is to run, not stand and fight.

Though I agree that it's unlikely they have missiles or any offensive capabilities, but it's not precluded. Just like a specialty limo for diplomats there are certainly capabilities and measures built in which are not obvious.

My thesis is that in defending and protecting the President they leave nothing to chance, and systems are heavily redundant. Perhaps they've decided the risk is elsewhere and direct offense is not necessary.

But, for instance, say the plane is forced down somehow. I would not be surprised if there are hidden gun ports and arms on board for the agents to use to defend the plane. Would it be such a stretch to allow the pilot some offensive capability? I don't see anything preventing it.

I agree that a fighter escort and the instruction to escape would be the foremost strategies.

Originally posted by RichardPrice
Airforce One is the designation given to any USAF aircraft the President is aboard, and the following designations also exist:

Marine One (Marine Corp)

Navy One (used once)

Army One (shared frequently with Marine One prior to 1976, when the Marinorp took over full duties)

Coast Guard One (not yet used)

Executive One (civilian, for example your Cessna, but its never been used despite Nixon flying in a civilian aircraft during his term and that aircraft used its standard civilian designation)

Neat! I never knew that. Congratulations on adding to my sometimes spotty education, and I mean that sincerely. You never hear anyone talk about the "Other Ones", but it all stands to reason. Thank you for the lesson.