World Watches as Putin’s ‘Flying Kremlin’ Heads to India

An extraordinary level of global attention was fixed on the skies today as the aircraft carrying Russian President Vladimir Putin made its way to New Delhi. The presidential jet, often referred to as the ‘Flying Kremlin’, became the world’s most tracked flight, igniting a massive online following. Flight Radar 24, the real-time flight tracking service, reported a significant spike in viewership as the plane approached India for discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “Our most tracked flight now: one of the Russian government aircraft en route to India,” the service stated on X, emphasizing the high level of international intrigue. President Putin’s arrival in New Delhi was met with a personal welcome from Prime Minister Modi at the airport. The agenda for their extensive two-day summit was expected to encompass key bilateral issues, including defense agreements, trade relations, and strategic alliances. An interesting observation made by flight enthusiasts hours before the landing involved the unusual coordination of two Russian aircraft. One jet’s transponder was periodically deactivated while the other remained active, a maneuver that continued for some time. Transponders are critical for providing real-time location and flight data to air traffic control systems. Given President Putin’s well-known security measures during international travel, the heightened interest in his flight was unsurprising. He is consistently accompanied by his heavily armored Aurus Senat limousine and his specially equipped presidential aircraft. The Ilyushin IL-96-300PU, the specific model in question, is a specialized iteration of the IL-96-300, a long-range aircraft initially designed by the Ilyushin Design Bureau in the 1980s. Since its maiden flight in 1988 and entry into service in the early 1990s, this modified version has become a recognizable symbol of the Russian presidency’s travel. This episode underscores how President Putin’s distinctive presidential jet continues to capture global fascination, drawing worldwide attention well before it lands on foreign soil.