Latest news with #Il-96
Metro
3 days ago
- Politics
- Metro
Inside Putin's £400,000,000 'doomsday' plane built to withstand a nuclear blast
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Vladimir Putin is on his way to Alaska today to meet Donald Trump – and he might take the 'Flying Kremlin' plane to get there. The last time the Russian president was in the US was ten years ago. Their summit today will be the first time the pair have met on US soil. Putin is not taking any chances with his long journey from Moscow to Anchorage, where the presidents are expected to have a highly guarded meeting with just interpreters present. The talks are likely to focus on Ukraine and how to end the war started by Russia. Putin and his entourage will travel the 4,584-mile journey on one of his high-security stealth planes, one of which is designed to survive a nuclear blast. Here is what we know about the fleet of aircraft customised for Putin. The 'doomsday plane,' also known as the 'Flying Kremlin,' has been designed to meet Putin's needs – and security – in the case of an attack. Most leaders of superpowers have their special aircraft – the POTUS has Air Force One, while the Chinese leadership uses a modified Boeing 737-800 – but Putin's special plane is thought to be the only one able to survive a nuclear attack. The 'doomsday plane' is an Ilyushin Il-80 aircraft, which is a revamped version of the manufacturer's passenger and cargo plane. The massive plane has no windows for passengers, just the front for the pilots to see out, designed to boost safety in the event of a natural disaster or a man-made attack. The Kremlin also has a fleet of other planes to choose from, including three Ilyushin Il-96-300PU models operated by the Special Air Squadron. This is thought to be the plane of choice for Putin's Alaska visit, and the second Il-96 was spotted approaching Anchorage shortly before midnight. More Trending The less menacing-looking Il-96 has windows and boasts luxuries. Like the US Air Force One, the Flying Kremlin boasts extensive communications tech, making it a moveable command centre. The command centre is thought to be located inside a dome in the middle of the fuselage to prevent electromagnetic pulse attacks, according to Euronews. Price estimates for the 'doomsday plane' and the Il-96 jets range wildly from around £50 million up to £400 million. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: RAF jets alerted to escort plane after 'sonic boom' MORE: My 'biohazard diarrhoea' cancelled an entire flight – this is what caused it MORE: Manchester Airport flights grounded after easyJet planes 'clip wings' on runway
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
The British Air Force One is also an aerial tanker
Executive transport for heads of state provides a means of safe and secure travel. It can also serve as an ambassador in its own right on state visits. To show support and national pride, countries prefer to operate domestic executive transports. The VC-25s that serve as Air Force One were made by Boeing while Russia's Il-96 presidential transport aircraft were manufactured by Voronezh. Naturally, the British Royal Air Force operates a modified Airbus A330 for executive transport. Britain provides the Rolls-Royce engines as well as the wings for the A330. The civilian airliner serves as the base aircraft for the A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport. Also operated by the air forces of Australia, France, Saudia Arabia, and Singapore, the A330 MRTT can transport passengers, patients, cargo, and fuel for aerial refueling. 14 MRTTs, owned by AirTanker Holdings Limited, are operated under lease by the British RAF; in RAF service, the aircraft has the Voyager KC2 or KC3. Voyager KC3 with registration ZZ336 serves as the primary air transport for the British royal family, prime minister, and other government ministers. In 2016, ZZ336 was converted for a VIP transport mission with 58 business class-type seats in the front cabin, 100 premium economy-type seats in the rear cabin, media facilities, missile detection capability, and a secure satellite communication system. However, the aircraft retained its low-visibility, matte-gray military paint scheme. It was not until 2020 that the aircraft received its gloss-white and Union Flag livery and was named Vespina. However, Vespina is not used by the RAF in the aircraft logbook, as a callsign, or flight number; the A330 MRTT operates as ZZ336. Based at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, Vespina is flown by No. 10 Squadron RAF which operates the main fleet of Voyagers. On VIP missions, Vespina is typically flies with a crew of 13: a pilot, co-pilot, nine flight attendants, and two pursers. Interestingly, Vespina still retains its aerial refueling capability. The aircraft has a total fuel load of 244,000 pounds and can dispense 110,231 pounds to receiver aircraft through its two under-wing hoses and refueling pods or its centerline Fuselage Refueling Unit. In December 2022, Vespina deployed to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar to support the FIFA World Cup with air-to-air refueling and aerial security sorties. Vespina sometimes flies as the lead aircraft in formation with the RAF Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows; this role was previously filled by a British Airways Concorde. During the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, Vespina conducted a flypast (flyover) of London.
