Putin's ‘Flying Kremlin’ On Way To India World's Most-Tracked Flight

Last Updated:December 04, 2025, 20:25 IST

The Russian President arrived in New Delhi on Thursday evening for a two-day state visit to India.

According to Flight Radar 24, more than 20,000 people were tracking the flight live.

The aircraft carrying Russian President Vladimir Putin was the most tracked flight in the world earlier today, according to flight tracking website Flightradar24, as he arrived in New Delhi for a two-day state visit.

“Our most tracked flight now: one of the Russian government aircraft en route to India. Russian President Putin and Indian PM Modi are scheduled to meet over two days in Delhi," the aircraft tracker said in a post on X.

As per the website, over 20,000 people were tracking the flight live.

Flightradar24 had spotted two aircraft. While one turned off its transponder, the other turned it on, and the cycle continued. A transponder sends aircraft coordinates and other key flight information to air traffic controllers.

As one of the world’s most closely guarded leaders, Putin travels with two signature symbols of his security and power, his customised presidential aircraft, the Ilyushin IL-96-300PU, often called the “Flying Kremlin," and his armoured Aurus Senat limousine.

Unlike many world leaders who rely on heavily modified Boeing or Airbus platforms, Putin’s aircraft is fully designed and manufactured in Russia.

Putin’s aircraft is a modified version of the Ilyushin IL-96-300, a long-range, four-engine Russian airliner developed in the 1980s by the Ilyushin Design Bureau. The long-range jet, a symbol of Russian engineering and presidential power, has its origins in the Soviet era and remains one of the most distinctive head-of-state aircraft in the world.

Putin’s Visit To India

The Russian President arrived in New Delhi on Thursday evening for a two-day state visit to India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi set aside protocol to receive the Russian leader at Palam Airport. The two leaders shook hands, shared a warm hug and exchanged greetings.

From there, both Putin and PM Modi travelled in the same car, a repeat of the arrangement seen during the SCO summit earlier this year.

PM Modi has hosted a private dinner for Putin this evening to set the tone for the 23rd India-Russia summit talks on Friday.

This is the first visit of the Russian President since the country was embroiled in the Russia-Ukraine war, giving the meeting significant geopolitical importance. Ahead of his arrival, Putin said he hopes to “take India-Russia ties to a new level."

Putin will be in India for around 30 hours. As per the itinerary, he will begin the day by visiting Rashtrapati Bhawan for a ceremonial reception at 11 AM, followed by a visit to Rajghat. From Rajghat, he will move to Hyderabad House. The Russian President will be there till lunch. In the latter half of the day of Friday, the Russian President will attend a business event at 3:40 PM. After a brief break, he will depart for Rashtrapati Bhavan to arrive at 7 PM for the ceremonial engagements and a meeting with President Droupadi Murmu.

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