A very special plane was spotted over Moscow. A video shows an Ilyushin Il-80 flying along the Russian capital. No ordinary machine. The giant Brummer is considered a doomsday aviator. The Russian President can still rule from the air in the event of a nuclear war. The Ilyushin Il-80 is therefore also known as the flying Kremlin.
So is Vladimir Putin (69) already preparing for a possible nuclear war? The Kremlin denies. The Ilyushin Il-80 was traveling as part of preparations for the May 9 military parade, held each year to celebrate the victory over Nazi Germany. The doomsday plane is supposed to fly low over Red Square. A test flight was carried out for this purpose.
Only: Since 2010, the Ilyushin Il-80 has not been presented at the annual military parade, as the British newspaper «Daily Mail» reported. Putin probably wants to demonstrate his determination and power. Because the mega bird is a clear signal to the West. He is serious.
Communication even with submarines
The Ilyushin Il-80 was still built in Soviet times. The plane took off for the first time in 1987. Its construction is unique. Apart from the cockpit, the machine has no windows – a protective device in the event of a nuclear war.
It is a good 60 meters long and has a range of up to 3600 kilometers. Even if the fuel runs out, the Ilyushin Il-80 does not have to land. It can be refueled in the air. A retractable refueling probe is located under the cockpit.
Thanks to two generators on board, the machine generates its own electricity. In addition, the doomsday aviator has a special satellite communication system with a VFL antenna to stay in touch with submarines and coordinate possible attacks. There are four such aircraft in total. In 2008 there was a program to retrofit the planes.
Successor is currently being built
Only three machines are now in use. The fourth Ilyushin Il-80 was apparently decommissioned. The same fate will soon befall the rest of the planes.
Because: Putin wants to have a doomsday plane in his fleet. The Ilyushin 96-400M. It should offer the Kremlin boss even more comfort on board and have a more sophisticated communication system. The new machine should already be in production. Details are not known.
The USA also has a doomsday plane. The Boeing E-4 serves the US President as a flying command center. There are also four models.
Warplanes fly in parade in Z formation
At the Victory Parade, Putin apparently wants to show what his military has to offer. In addition to a flight of the Ilyushin Il-80, the long-range bomber Tu-95MS and the supersonic bomber Tu-160, also known as the White Swan, are also to fly over Red Square.
And that’s not all: As the Russian Ministry of Defense has confirmed, eight MiG-29SMT fighter jets will fly in the shape of the letter Z. It is considered the sign of the Russian army in the Ukraine war. That is why the Latin letter Z appears in many places in public space in Russia. It is easy to recognize as a symbol because it does not exist in the Cyrillic alphabet. Numerous Russian military vehicles also carry the Z. (jmh)
