Donald Trump’s airborne defences revealed

WE all know what Marine One looks like, but it rarely travels alone. Here’s the rest of the picture.

The Presidential helicopter, Marine One, doesn’t fly alone. Picture: Pablo Martinez Monsivais

DONALD Trump has a heavyweight escort when he flies in Marine One.

The presidential chopper was flanked by one identical decoy helicopter and two giant Osprey aircraft as he flew over Delaware, reports The Sun.

Trump was heading to Dover air force Base to pay his respects to the family of Navy SEAL William Owens.

The special forces soldier was killed in a raid on a terror camp in Yemen this week.

It was the first combat death since Trump entered the White House last month.

Donald Trump travelled to pay respects to the family of a fallen soldier. Picture: Nicholas Kamm

Which is he in? This incredible photo shows the escort that accompanied Trump, complete with V-22 Osprey attack helicopters on each side and a decoy Marine One. Picture: Brendan Smialowski

And he received a carefully-planned escort to the base.

The President yesterday flew in Marine One, a traditional green Sea King chopper.

A lookalike helicopter flies beside to act as a decoy in the event of an attack.

The hi-tech aircraft is estimated to cost A$521 million — more than air force One.

Up to 35 helicopters can be called Marine One, with the fleet costing almost A$32 billion and being manned by 800 US Marines.

Helicopters have been used to transport US presidents since Dwight D. Eisenhower boarded the flimsy Bell H-13 Sioux in 1957.

The Sea King model Trump boarded yesterday is used extensively throughout the US military after it was first launched in 1959.

It can travel at more than 257km/h and carry three crew.

It also carries missile-avoidance flares that can divert incoming weapons away from the aircraft.

Unlike Marine One, the assault aircraft can fire 3000 rounds per minute. Picture: Nicholas Kamm

Accompanying the two Sea Kings were the giant Boeing V-22 Ospreys.

The tiltrotor behemoths — which each cost A$93million — are capable of taking off vertically or along a runway and can travel at more than 563km/h.

With its ability to changes rotor position, the aircraft can effectively operate as a helicopter or aeroplane.

It carries a 360 degree ‘belly gun’ capable of firing 3000 rounds a minute and a remote-controlled machine gun.

Used in Afghanistan and Iraq, the huge aircraft can carry up to 32 fully-armed soldiers at a time.

This article originally appeared in The Sun and was reproduced with permission.