The US has agreed to sell two advanced missile defence systems to India for two Boeing-777 head-of-state aircraft for an estimated cost of $190 million, a decision that will enhance the security of the planes flying the president and the prime minister.

According to the Pentagon, the sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the US by helping to strengthen the US-India strategic relationship.

The Trump administration has approved the purchase of the two systems known as Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) and Self-Protection Suites (SPS), said the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA).

The US decision came after the Indian government recently made the request for LAIRCM and SPS, given the high-level threat to the prime minister and the president.

The defence systems, which would bring the security of Air India One at par with that of Air Force One used by the US president, would be installed in two Boeing 777 head-of-state aircraft, the Pentagon said.

The Indian government plans to buy two Boeing 777 ERs from Air India for this specific purpose. Unlike in the past, the two aircraft would not be used for commercial purposes by Air India.

The purpose of the LAIRCM programme is to protect large aircraft from man-portable missiles. Once installed, the LAIRCM system increases crew-warning time, decreases false alarm rates and automatically counters advanced intermediate range missile systems.

The missile warning subsystem will use multiple sensors to provide full spatial coverage.

The counter-measures subsystem will use lasers mounted in pointer-tracker turret assemblies. It also automatically counters advanced intermediate range missile systems with no action required by the crew.

The pilot will simply be informed that a threat missile was detected and jammed.

The US is the second-largest arms supplier to India. It has already recognised India as a “major defence partner”, a status that commits the US to facilitate technology sharing with India.

In 2018, the US granted India Strategic Trade Authorisation-1 (STA-1) status. India is the only South Asian country and third Asian country after Japan and South Korea to get STA-1 status. The status eases India’s defence procurement from the US.

Last year, India and the US signed the COMCASA (Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement) to facilitate interoperability between the two militaries and sale of high-end technology.