“Decoys” and snipers protect President Trump in Singapore

President Trump steps off Air Force One. Photo: Reuters

Straitstimes quoted sources as saying that at Changi Airport, snipers are likely to be deployed on rooftops even if Air Force One, the official plane carrying President Trump, may choose to land at Paya Lebar Air Base instead of Changi Airport.

Previously, during the trips to Singapore of former President Barack Obama in 2009 and former President George W. Bush in 2003 and 2006 respectively, security for the US leaders was also carefully prepared. In all three of these flights, Air Force One landed at Paya Lebar base - which is considered safer than Changi airport.

For security reasons, the use of decoy planes is no longer unusual in flights serving the US president. Sometimes the US side can use more than 2 decoy planes to serve the presidential plane.

US security personnel stand guard before Air Force One carrying former President Obama lands at an air base on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2015. Photo: EPA

Preparing for a presidential flight is a secret mission. Decisions about where the plane will land and its flight path are made only at the last minute.

“There will always be plans A, B, C, so we have to prepare for any situation,” a source close to the security logistics preparations for the leaders' flights revealed.

“When President Trump arrives, we will prepare his plane to land at Changi Airport or Paya Lebar Air Base or even Seletar Airport. The final decision will be made by security forces, including US Secret Service agents. They will be present both on the ground and at air traffic control,” a source toldStraitstimes.

In some cases, the landing site will be finalized only an hour or less before the plane lands. When former President Obama visited Singapore in 2009, the original plan was to land at Changi Airport. However, the plan was changed 45 minutes before the plane landed and the landing site was changed to Paya Lebar Air Base.

Before landing in Singapore, Air Force One will have to stop mid-flight to refuel because the plane is not capable of flying nonstop from the US to Singapore. Technically, Air Force One can refuel in the air. On flights to Asia, the plane usually stops at US military bases, for example in Alaska, Germany or Japan.

Presidential Fleet

In the article posted onPoliticoIn May 2017, author Garret M. Graff said that although the famous white and blue Boeing 747 is the most visible symbol of the US president, behind it is a secret squadron to ensure the safety and leadership of the White House owner in case of disaster.

“A presidential trip involves hundreds of government and military personnel, requiring dozens of flights, including a support plane for Air Force One and transport planes to transport communications equipment, helicopters and even motorcades when the president arrives in a country,” the article said.

A fleet of cars is ready to serve when the plane carrying the US president lands. Photo: Getty

The US president's air support fleet on foreign trips also includes a number of special aircraft called C-20Cs. These are Gulfstream aircraft that often fly alongside Air Force One and land at a location not far from the presidential plane. They can fly long distances and are used in special situations.

“These planes (C-20C) are not officially visible. But for many years now, they have accompanied almost everywhere the president travels, flying alongside the president's trips and can be used as a substitute for the presidential plane. These planes secretly blend into airports near the place where the president visits but never land at the same airport as Air Force One,” the article said.Politicodisclose.

“Preparing for presidential flights can take weeks, even months,” said Michael Daniel, an international aviation consultant.

President Trump is always strictly protected by bodyguards during his trips. Photo: Reuters

The Beast and a look-alike decoy are an integral part of the presidential motorcade overseas. They are equipped with a host of security features. They are bomb- and bullet-proof, have an air supply system in case of a chemical attack, and are even equipped with blood bags that match the president’s blood type.

“For important events like the US-North Korea summit in Singapore, security issues will be a top priority for the US Secret Service. Accordingly, there will be more discussions and cooperation between US and Singapore government agencies in the coming time,” said expert Daniel.