Russian President Vladimir Putin’s latest visit to India sparked an extraordinary wave of global attention on Thursday. His presidential aircraft briefly became the most-tracked flight in the world on FlightRadar24, with millions of users monitoring its real-time movement. The unusual spike in public tracking highlighted the scale of international curiosity surrounding the trip and the geopolitical weight attached to the India–Russia summit.
FlightRadar24 Records Unprecedented Traffic
The global flight-tracking platform reported that the Russian government aircraft heading towards India became its most-followed flight ever. A post from FlightRadar24 on its official handle stated: “Our most-tracked flight to date: one of Russia’s government aircraft en route to India.”
Social media platforms saw a surge in screenshots, route analyses and speculation as users monitored the plane’s altitude, speed and directional changes minute-by-minute.
Putin Arrives in Delhi; PM Modi Extends Personal Welcome
President Putin landed in New Delhi on Thursday evening, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally received him at the airport. The two leaders greeted each other warmly, marking the beginning of the 22nd Annual India–Russia Summit.
The summit is expected to cover a wide spectrum of issues, including defence cooperation, civil nuclear energy, hydrocarbons, long-term trade, investment flows, and broader geopolitical coordination.
Two Russian Government Aircraft Used Under Strategic Security Protocol
During Putin’s transit, two Russian state aircraft were detected in the region — a move analysts describe as part of a highly sophisticated security protocol. Key observations included:
- One aircraft switched off its transponder during part of the journey
- The second aircraft maintained normal transmission
- Later, the roles of the two aircraft were reversed
Security experts note that such patterns are typical for high-level state visits to obscure the real-time location of the principal aircraft. A transponder transmits critical data to air-traffic controllers, including altitude, speed and coordinates.
Inside the ‘Flying Kremlin’: IL-96-300PU
Putin’s presidential aircraft, the Ilyushin IL-96-300PU, is widely regarded as one of the safest and most secure head-of-state aircraft globally. Nicknamed the “Flying Kremlin”, the aircraft boasts advanced countermeasure systems, encrypted communication suites, reinforced structures, and a custom-designed interior for long-haul diplomatic missions.Putin’s foreign trips are almost always accompanied by: His Aurus Senat bulletproof limousine, The IL-96-300PU aircraft equipped for command-and-control operations
Global Focus on India–Russia Strategic Dynamics
- Geopolitical Significance of the Summit: The Modi–Putin meeting holds substantial international relevance. With shifting global alignments, energy dependencies and defence partnerships, India–Russia cooperation remains a key point of global strategic assessment.
- What the Flight-Tracking Frenzy Indicates: The record-breaking tracking activity signals heightened global focus on Putin’s movements, reflecting the geopolitical sensitivity of his engagements—particularly with major partners like India.
- Security Architecture on Display: The dual-aircraft deployment and transponder protocol underscored the complexity of Russia’s VVIP aviation security, further fueling public intrigue.
