Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in New Delhi for BRICS-related engagement and bilateral talks, traveling on a specially modified Ilyushin IL-96-300PU aircraft often described as a “doomsday plane.” Both outlets report that the aircraft is equipped to serve as a secure, mobile national command platform during emergencies or conflict, with advanced communications intended to support continuity of leadership and decision-making.
Times of India and NDTV describe the plane’s focus on survivability and command-and-control capability, noting its role as a flying headquarters. NDTV adds that two identical IL-96-300PU aircraft are used in tandem, with both flying simultaneously so observers cannot easily determine which aircraft Putin is in. Times of India also compares the concept to similar U.S. aircraft used for national command purposes.
The coverage centers on the aircraft’s purpose and security features, with attention differing mainly on operational details—such as the simultaneous flight of identical planes—versus broader comparisons to other countries’ command aviation systems.
