Three Russian Military Aircraft, Including IL-76, Land at Noida International Airport Ahead of Putin's Visit to India
Why It MattersThe event underscores Noida International Airport's emerging role in handling foreign military and VIP aircraft traffic previously reserved for Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport.
Three Russian military aircraft, including a heavy military transport IL-76, landed at Noida International Airport at around 5:30 am on Tuesday, ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin's scheduled visit to India on Friday. A Russian advance team and military officials arrived aboard the aircraft to review security arrangements and VIP movement preparations.
The aircraft remained parked at the airport on Wednesday, with the Russian team and airport security personnel monitoring them and overseeing security arrangements. This marks the first time a foreign aircraft has landed at Noida International Airport, a role previously handled by Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport for foreign military and VIP aircraft. It has not been officially confirmed whether Putin's own aircraft will land at Noida.
Putin is due to hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of the BRICS summit, with defence cooperation, the Su-57 fighter jet, the S-400 air defence system, Russian oil, nuclear energy, and trade in rupees and roubles expected to be discussed. Russia has proposed both supplying the Su-57 to India and producing it jointly in India under a technology cooperation arrangement.
