Trump “Had Never Seen Anything Like” His Secretive Flight To Iraq Aboard Air Force One

Updated Dec 1, 2019 6:39 AM EST

We are learning more about President Trump’s short trip to Al Asad Air Base in Western Iraq now that Air Force One is safely at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. This includes an account of the flight from Trump himself.

While fielding questions at the U.S. military forward operating location, Trump was asked if he had concerns about the trip. Here is how he replied:

“Absolutely. When I heard what ya had to go through. I mean look, I had concerns for the institution of the presidency, because, not for myself personally, I had concerns for the first lady, I will tell you. But if you would have seen what we had to go through, with the darkened plane with all windows closed, with no lights on whatsoever, anywhere, pitch black, I’ve never seen that, been on many airplanes, all types and shapes and sizes, I’ve never seen anything like it. We’re coming in and I know all of the things that were surrounding us for safety. So did I have a concern? Yeah I had a concern. But my bigger concern was maybe the people that were with me. Certainly all of them. Except maybe John Bolton. He’s a pretty tough guy, he can handle it. Right John? John Can handle it.”

“Absolutely. When I heard what ya had to go through. I mean look, I had concerns for the institution of the presidency, because, not for myself personally, I had concerns for the first lady, I will tell you. But if you would have seen what we had to go through, with the darkened plane with all windows closed, with no lights on whatsoever, anywhere, pitch black, I’ve never seen that, been on many airplanes, all types and shapes and sizes, I’ve never seen anything like it.

We’re coming in and I know all of the things that were surrounding us for safety. So did I have a concern? Yeah I had a concern. But my bigger concern was maybe the people that were with me. Certainly all of them. Except maybe John Bolton. He’s a pretty tough guy, he can handle it. Right John? John Can handle it.”

See the exchange here:

What Trump is referring to is the tactical approach and measures used by Air Force One’s crew to access Al Asad Air Base safely. This would have involved flying the approach totally lights out, likely using a corkscrewing or steep tactical approach method. Many of the lights at the base may have also been turned off during Air Force One’s recovery and helicopters would have been in the air patrolling the sprawling base’s borders and commandos would have been ready to execute combat search and rescue operations if something bad were to have happened to the iconic aircraft and its occupants. Surveillance aircraft would have been airborne sucking up any communications intelligence from nefarious actors that may have been tipped off to Air Force One’s arrival or presence at the base. Fighter aircraft would have also provided escort and combat air patrol duties over the area. This could have included flying alongside Air Force One during its approach to act as heat traps .

Tyler Rogoway/Author

Since the Global War on Terror kicked off following 9/11, Air Force One’s crews—the best the USAF has to offer—have gotten real world experience in executing these types of operations, most famously with George W. Bush flying to Baghdad in 2003. Many others trips to Afghanistan and Iraq followed over the years and across both the Bush and Obama Presidencies.

This is an excellent documentary. Start at 31:00 for a good idea of exactly what an operation like this looks like:

Some may question why Air Force One, hardly an inconspicuous aircraft, was used for this sensitive mission. The VC-25A is the most heavily self-defended transport aircraft in the world by a large margin. It has been upgraded with many AN/AAQ-24 Directed Infrared Countermeasure (laser) turrets and also packs the AN/AAQ-204 Matador infrared countermeasure system that was installed when the aircraft were first delivered decades ago. So for the primary threat, shoulder-fired heat seeking missiles, also known as Man-Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS), no aircraft on earth is better suited at countering it.

Matador installations seen in this image in their trailing-edge engine pylon mounting position. Another is located above the APU on the tail., Tyler Rogoway/Author

Air Force One is also substantially faster than a C-17—another good attribute to have when flying into sensitive airspace. Still, a C-17 could be a low-profile alternative option when packing a ‘Silver Bullet’ VVIP system which you can read all about here . A C-32A, commonly referred to as Air Force Two, is outfitted with similar defensive systems as a VC-25A, albeit on a smaller scale, but using it would inject more risk when flying into an airfield where MANPADS are a major threat due to it being a twin-engine design.

Beyond those traits, the VC-25A packs the necessary communications needed to keep the President in secure contact with the National Command Authority if need be and pretty much anyone else on the planet, It also possesses substantial comfort, includes its own surgical room, and a host of other unique capabilities that allow its crew to make major changes to their route and general flight plan on the fly. This includes a special fourth crew position for advanced navigation and real-time flight planning. The aircraft is also aerial refueling capable , adding to its flexibility during contingency operations.

So basically, it may be big and very recognizable, but the VC-25A is by far the best aircraft for the job. And once all the lights go out, its high-profile visual appearance becomes far less of a handicap.

Also of note in new video coming out from the visit, is a group of Navy SEALs that took photos with the President while decked out in combat gear. SEALs have been highly active in Iraq since ISIS blitzed across the northern portion of the country years ago. The special operators did not have their faces covered or obscured in any of the official media imagery that has been released, which has led to concerns by some over the White House’s adherence to operational security protocols. It’s worth noting that special operators have been photographed in the field on many occasions in recent years.

Regardless, it had to have been a cool experiencing for the men and women in uniform to meet the President in a remote operating area like Al Asad Air Base. It is a bit odd that Air Force One is returning home after just three hours in Iraq and not heading to an established base like Al Udeid in Qatar and/or Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan where Trump could meet with more troops and receive briefings from commanders on the ground there.

We will keep you up to date as more info about Trump’s first trip to a conflict zone emerge.

Contact the author: Tyler@thedrive.com

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更新于美国东部时间2019年12月1日上午6:39

现在，随着“空军一号”安全抵达德国拉姆施泰因空军基地，我们得以了解更多关于特朗普总统对伊拉克西部阿萨德空军基地的短暂访问的信息。其中包括特朗普本人对此次飞行的描述。

在美军前沿作战基地回答记者提问时，特朗普被问及是否对此次行程感到担忧。以下是他的回答：

“当然。当我听到你们的经历时，我非常担心。我的意思是，你看，我当时确实对总统职位感到担忧，因为，不是为我个人，而是为第一夫人，我得告诉你。但如果你亲眼目睹我们当时的处境，飞机里一片漆黑，所有窗户都紧闭，没有任何灯光，伸手不见五指，我从未见过这样的景象。我坐过很多飞机，各种类型、各种尺寸的，但从未见过这样的。我们降落的时候，我知道周围都设置了哪些安全措施。所以我担心吗？当然担心。但我更担心的可能是和我在一起的人。当然，我担心所有人。除了约翰·博尔顿。他是个很坚强的人，他能应付。对吧，约翰？约翰能应付。”

“当然。当我听到你们的遭遇时，我真的非常震惊。我的意思是，说实话，我当时很担心总统制度，因为，不是担心我自己，而是担心第一夫人。但如果你亲眼看到我们当时的处境，飞机里一片漆黑，所有窗户都关着，没有任何灯光，到处都是漆黑一片，我从未见过这样的景象。我坐过很多飞机，各种类型、各种大小的飞机，但我从未见过这样的。”

我们进来了，我知道周围所有的安全措施。所以我担心吗？当然担心。但我更担心的可能是和我在一起的人。当然，除了约翰·博尔顿。他是个很厉害的人，他能应付。对吧，约翰？约翰能应付。

请点击此处查看交易详情：

特朗普指的是“空军一号”机组人员为安全抵达阿萨德空军基地而采取的战术方法和措施。这包括在完全关闭所有灯光的情况下进行进近，很可能采用螺旋式或陡峭的战术进近方式。在“空军一号”返回基地期间，基地内的许多照明设施可能也被关闭，直升机会在空中巡逻这个庞大基地的边界，突击队员也会随时准备执行战斗搜救行动，以防这架标志性飞机及其乘员发生任何意外。侦察机也会在空中盘旋，拦截任何可能事先得到“空军一号”抵达或出现在基地的不法分子的通信情报。战斗机也会在该地区提供护航和战斗空中巡逻任务。这可能包括在“空军一号”进近过程中与其并肩飞行，充当热陷阱。

泰勒·罗戈韦/作者

自 9/11 事件后全球反恐战争爆发以来，美国空军一号的机组人员——美国空军最优秀的人员——在执行此类行动方面积累了丰富的实战经验，其中最著名的当属 2003 年乔治·W·布什飞往巴格达。此后多年，在布什和奥巴马两任总统任期内，空军一号还多次飞往阿富汗和伊拉克。

这是一部非常棒的纪录片。从31:00开始观看，可以很好地了解这类手术的具体流程：

有些人可能会质疑，为何要使用一架并非低调的“空军一号”飞机来执行这项敏感任务。VC-25A是世界上防御能力最强的运输机，遥遥领先于其他飞机。它加装了许多AN/AAQ-24定向红外对抗（激光）炮塔，并且还配备了几十年前飞机交付时就安装的AN/AAQ-204“斗牛士”红外对抗系统。因此，对于主要威胁——肩扛式红外制导导弹（也称为便携式防空导弹系统，MANPADS），世界上没有任何飞机比它更适合应对。

图中可见Matador发动机的安装位置，位于后缘发动机吊架上。另一套装置位于尾部辅助动力装置（APU）上方。（泰勒·罗戈威/作者）

“空军一号”的速度也远超C-17——这在飞越敏感空域时是一项优势。不过，如果携带“银弹”VVIP系统（详情请点击此处），C-17也可以作为一种低调的替代方案。C-32A，通常被称为“空军二号”，虽然规模较小，但其配备的防御系统与VC-25A类似。然而，由于C-32A是双引擎飞机，在便携式防空导弹（MANPADS）威胁严重的机场使用，风险会更高。

除了上述特性外，VC-25A 还配备了必要的通信设备，必要时可确保总统与国家指挥机构保持安全联系，并能与地球上几乎任何人保持联系。它还拥有相当舒适的机舱环境，配备独立的手术室，以及一系列其他独特功能，使机组人员能够随时对航线和总体飞行计划进行重大调整。这包括一个特殊的第四机组位置，用于高级导航和实时飞行计划。该飞机还具备空中加油能力，进一步增强了其在应急行动中的灵活性。

所以，尽管VC-25A体型庞大、辨识度很高，但它无疑是执行这项任务的最佳飞机。而且一旦所有灯光熄灭，它引人注目的外观优势也就不那么明显了。

此次访问最新发布的视频中，值得注意的是一群身着作战装备的海豹突击队员与总统合影。自多年前ISIS席卷伊拉克北部以来，海豹突击队一直在伊拉克积极开展行动。在已发布的官方媒体照片中，这些特种部队队员的面部均未被遮挡或遮盖，这引发了一些人对白宫是否遵守行动安全规程的担忧。值得注意的是，近年来，特种部队队员在战场上多次被拍摄到。

无论如何，对于这些身着制服的官兵来说，能在像阿萨德空军基地这样偏远的作战区域见到总统，想必是一次难忘的经历。令人有些费解的是，空军一号在伊拉克停留仅三小时后就返回基地，而不是前往像卡塔尔的乌代德空军基地或阿富汗的巴格拉姆空军基地这样设施完善的基地。在那些基地，特朗普可以与更多部队官兵会面，并听取一线指挥官的简报。

我们将持续关注有关特朗普首次访问冲突地区的更多信息，并及时向您汇报。

联系作者：Tyler@thedrive.com

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