Putin’s ‘Fortress On Wheels’: Inside The Armoured ‘Russian Rolls-Royce’ Aurus Senat, To Lands In Delhi For Annual Summit | VIDEO | India News

Russian President Vladimir Putin will arrive in New Delhi this evening for the important two-day 23rd India-Russia Annual Strategic Summit. He would be accompanied by his personal state car, the magnificent Aurus Senat Limousine, a fully personalized and bespoke car also known as the “castle on wheels”.

The heavy armored vehicle from Russia will be the focal point of this leaders’ parade, representing security and Russia’s engineering prowess as the leaders prepare for talks on defense and trade.

Aurus Senat President Vladimir Putin’s Limousine pic.twitter.com/7k2dUro8jh— Leandro Romao (@leandroOnX) May 5, 2025

Aurus Senate: Russia’s Domestic Luxury Tank

The Aurus Senat is the official presidential state car of Russia, developed as part of the government-supported ‘Kortezh’ project. It is often compared to the Rolls-Royce Phantom due to its ostentatious luxury design.

Manufacturer: The Mercedes-Benz S 600 Guard was built by Moscow Aurus Motors, which was founded in 2018 by the order of President Putin as part of an effort to develop a state car for the domestic market to replace the Pullman.

Armor and Protection: Senat is designed and manufactured to provide the highest level of protection. It has advanced ballistic defense at the VR8/VR10 level, with its body and 6 cm thick windows being completely bulletproof. It is also designed to be resistant to hand grenades that may come under the fuselage and to chemical attacks thanks to its internal air filtration system.

Performance: The armored limousine tips the scales at just over 6,200kg, but under the hood lies a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 housing a hybrid system that produces 598hp and 880Nm of torque. An 850 bhp V12 option is also available for unarmored versions.

Luxurious Interiors: The cabin is designed as a secure private lounge, featuring premium leather upholstery, ambient lighting, premium wood finishes, and sophisticated rear cabin entertainment and comfort controls, including massage and cooled seats.

Modi-Putin ‘Car Diplomacy’ Link

This is not the first time that the Aurus Senate has occupied a central position in the context of the relationship between the two leaders.

The rare photoshoot of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Putin in the backseat of the Aurus Senate was captured at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit in Tianjin, China, this August.

In addition, Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that both leaders stayed in the car for about 50 minutes and had private conversations, thus the car provided a secret meeting environment.

Focus of the Summit: Su-57 Fighter Jet and Trade Tensions

Putin’s visit was seen as important, especially considering India’s ongoing strategic balancing act between Moscow and Washington.

Defense and War Aircrafts: Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the supply of the advanced Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jet and S-500 air defense system to India will be at the top of the agenda. The discussions are expected to include the delay in the delivery of the remaining S-400 missile systems.

Trade and EnergyBilateral trade reached nearly $70 billion, largely driven by Russia’s oil sales. The leaders will discuss efforts to reach a $100 billion trade target by 2030, as well as exploring alternative payment mechanisms, including connecting RuPay to Russia’s Mir network to bypass Western sanctions.

Travel Itinerary: Putin will receive a ceremonial welcome and attend summit talks at Hyderabad House on Friday, following a special dinner hosted by Prime Minister Modi shortly after his arrival. A meeting with President Droupadi Murmu also awaits him.

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