Presidential state car (Russia)

The Russian presidential state car is the official state car of the President of Russia.

Aurus Senat limousine at the 2018 inauguration of Vladimir Putin

The current presidential state car is an Aurus Senat limousine,[1] which replaced a Mercedes-Benz S 600 Guard Pullman.[2] The car is equipped with many life-saving, offensive, and defensive measures, and is built to the Federal Protective Service's standards.

The Aurus Senat was developed in Russia by the NAMI as part of the "Kortezh" project. The Senat was publicly presented for the first time at the Fourth inauguration of Vladimir Putin in 2018.[3]

Previous generations

Under the USSR, the General Secretary of the Communist Party was always driven in a Soviet-built ZIL-41052,[4] escorted by Chaikas. Two ZIL limousines are still maintained in the Kremlin garage, and are occasionally used in Day of Victory military parades.[5]

The first foreign limousine used by a Russian president was a W140 Mercedes-Benz S-Class purchased for Boris Yeltsin. This was superseded by a Mercedes-Benz W220, then by a W221. The limousines used by Presidents Yeltsin and Medvedev were stretched and armored by the Belgian firm Carat Duchatelet; for President Medvedev's inauguration a special Carat Duchatelet limousine with a raised roof was ordered. President Putin's Mercedes was a Mercedes-Benz-produced S600 Pullman Guard.

Operation

Recent Russian presidential state cars have been bulletproof, had solid rubber tires, and carried an array of communications equipment.[6]

On state visits, the state car is airlifted to the destination by an Ilyushin Il-76 transport aircraft.

The presidential motorcade is usually escorted by Ural or BMW motorcycles; and Mercedes G-Class, Mercedes E-Class, S-Class, BMW 5 Series, Volkswagen Caravelle, and/or Chevrolet support vehicles.

National transport services for the Russian President are provided by the Special Purpose Garage (SPG).[7] The SPG is a unit within the Federal Protective Service.

ZIL-41072 "Scorpion" car for presidential guards

See also

References
  1. Путин будет постоянно пользоваться лимузином "Сенат" — Российская газета
  2. "Russia, Security Elected Leaders – JRL 7-23-04". Cdi.org. 2004-07-23. Archived from the original on 2009-05-01. Retrieved 2009-04-25.
  3. Russian President Putin's new limo makes debut ahead of 2017 production - Autoblog
  4. Bumbeck, Mike (2007-05-01). "We Will Bury You! The ZIL-111 – Kruschev". Jalopnik. Retrieved 2009-04-25.
  5. Milner, Mark (2008-05-01). "Russia's new rich help British luxury cars drive out the venerable Zil | Business". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 2009-04-25.
  6. Ayers, Stephen W. "Hotel Hobnobbing with High-level Diplomats". Retrieved December 19, 2014. I also had the honor to welcome President Putin and shake his hand, but his visit stands out in my mind more for the story of his bulletproof Mercedes limousine. It was flown in from Russia especially for the visit and guarded night and day in the hotel underground parking lot. I took aside one of the English-speaking Russians in his mission and requested that he show me the limo. It was a great experience! The windows were made of two-inch thick glass, the tires were of solid rubber to prevent blowouts and the body was bulletproof. I was also amazed at how much communication equipment was in that limo – like a travelling Kremlin!
  7. President's transports. Cars (in Russian) Archived 24 January 2008 at the Wayback Machine
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