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The thieves have targeted a Russian “doomsday” plane, the military plane that would be used by top officials, including Vladimir Putin, in the event of a nuclear war.
The theft of the Ilyushin-80, a mobile command post specially designed to keep officers alive and in command of the army during a nuclear conflict, took place at an airfield in southern Russia, state media reported.
The thieves managed to open the cargo hatch of the highly classified aircraft and took 39 radio sets. They have not been caught.
Officials from the Ministry of the Interior in the city of Taganrog confirmed that a plane at the Taganrog Aviation Scientific and Technical Complex was stolen, although they did not specify which one.
Ren-TV, a Russian television station, reported that police had found shoe prints and fingerprints on board the plane.
Russia has only four modified Ilyushin-80, Il-86 aircraft that are specially equipped to protect those on board in the event of a nuclear war. The plane has no passenger windows, to prevent passengers from being blinded by atomic blasts.
The planes also carry specialized communications equipment to maintain contact with the country’s armed forces, including missile forces capable of launching nuclear strikes. A mile-long retractable antenna dragged from the rear of the aircraft can maintain communications with ballistic missile submarines.
In the event of conflict, Putin and other political and military officials are expected to board the planes and command the country’s defenses while they remain in the air, possibly for several days (with refueling).
Russia is keeping some of the details of the Ilyushin-80 secret. It is not yet clear how sensitive the stolen radio equipment may be.
The planes have been in service for 15 years and must be replaced by an aircraft with a longer range: the Il-96-400M. The new aircraft, designed to withstand electromagnetic pulses released by nuclear explosions and include better shielding, have updated electronic and communications systems.
The United States maintains four Boeing E-4, modified Boeing 747-200 advanced airborne command posts that would be carried by the US president and other senior officials in the event of a nuclear war.
