Russian President Vladimir Putin is about to succeed in New Delhi this night for the essential two-day twenty third India-Russia Annual Strategic Summit. He could be joined by his private state automobile—the imposing Aurus Senat Limousine—a totally customised and bespoke automobile which is often known as a “fortress on wheels.”
The closely armoured car from Russia can be a spotlight of this parade of leaders, representing safety and Russian engineering prowess because the leaders put together for talks on protection and commerce.
Aurus Senat Limousine of President Vladimir Putin pic.twitter.com/7k2dUro8jh
— Leandro Romao (@leandroOnX) Might 5, 2025
The Aurus Senat: Russia’s Homegrown Luxurious Tank
The Aurus Senat is Russia’s official presidential state automobile, developed beneath the government-backed ‘Kortezh’ mission. It’s typically in contrast with the Rolls-Royce Phantom for its imposing luxurious styling.
Producer: Constructed by Aurus Motors of Moscow, which was established in 2018 upon the orders of President Putin as a part of an effort to develop a state automobile for the home market, changing the Mercedes-Benz S 600 Guard Pullman.
Armour and Safety: The Senat is designed and manufactured to offer safety on the highest stage. It boasts a sophisticated stage of ballistic protection at VR8/VR10, with its physique and 6 cm-thick home windows being absolutely bulletproof. It’s also designed to withstand grenade blasts to the underbody and face up to chemical assaults by its built-in air filtration system.
Efficiency: The armoured limo suggestions the scales at a shade over 6,200 kg, however beneath the bonnet lies a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 housing a hybrid system churning 598 bhp and 880 Nm of torque. There’s additionally an 850-bhp V12 choice that is accessible for non-armoured variations.
Luxurious Interiors: The cabin has been designed as a safe non-public lounge, that includes premium leather-based upholstery, ambient lighting, high-end wood trims, and complicated rear-cabin leisure and luxury controls, together with therapeutic massage and cooling seats.
The Modi-Putin ‘Automobile Diplomacy’ Connection
This isn’t the primary time the Aurus Senat has featured centrally within the context of the connection between the 2 leaders.
The uncommon photo-op of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Putin driving on the backseat of an Aurus Senat was captured this August on the Shanghai Cooperation Group Summit in Tianjin, China.
Additional, Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that each the leaders remained contained in the automobile for nearly 50 minutes, having non-public talks, and thus the automobile offered a confidential assembly floor.
Summit Focus: Su-57 Fighter Jets And Commerce Tensions
The go to by Putin has been seen as necessary, particularly contemplating India’s persevering with strategic balancing act between Moscow and Washington.
Defence and Fighter Jets: Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated the doubtless provide of the superior Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jet and the S-500 air defence system to India can be excessive on the agenda. Discussions are additionally prone to cowl the delayed supply of the remaining S-400 missile techniques.
Commerce and Power: The bilateral commerce, largely pushed by Russian oil gross sales, has surged to just about $70 billion. The leaders will focus on efforts to realize a $100 billion commerce goal by 2030, apart from exploring various cost mechanisms, together with linking RuPay with Russia’s Mir community, to bypass Western sanctions.
Itinerary: After a non-public dinner hosted by PM Modi shortly after his arrival, Putin can be accorded a ceremonial welcome on Friday and attend the summit talks at Hyderabad Home. A gathering with President Droupadi Murmu additionally awaits him.
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