When President Vladimir V. Putin travels abroad, he typically flies in dated, Soviet-designed Ilyushin Il-96 series jets, choosing them over newer Western models despite safety concerns.
Mr. Putin seems unwavering in his commitment to using the Soviet-designed aircraft, even when major Russian airlines have switched to newer Western models.
The Rossiya special flight squadron, responsible for the Kremlin's aircraft, houses 2,500 workers and operates planes like Il-96s, Tu-214s, and Mi-38 helicopters.
Using outdated planes like the Il-96 could be a deliberate symbol of Russian strength and resilience according to experts in national security and intelligence like Adam Taichi Kraft.
#president-putin #soviet-designed-aircraft #russian-resiliency #kremlins-aircraft-fleet #national-security
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