Russia sends 'doomsday' aircraft to Iran as US strikes escalate

Russia sends 'doomsday' aircraft to Iran as US strikes escalate 

In a major geopolitical move, Russia has dispatched its elite Tu-214PU airborne command post aircraft to Tehran.

The deployment comes as the United States intensifies its military operations against Iranian targets.

The Tu-214PU, dubbed the Russian version of Air Force One, is a specialized version of the Tupolev Tu-214 passenger aircraft and serves as an airborne command post for high-level crisis coordination.

Aircraft not standard government plane

The Tu-214PU, described as Russia's equivalent of a "doomsday" aircraft, is not a standard government aircraft. It is equipped with encrypted communications and secure command-and-control systems, making it suitable for high-threat environments.

The aircraft is operated by the Rossiya Special Flight Squadron, which ferries Russia's top political and military leadership during a crisis.

Its arrival in Tehran signals a possible executive-level engagement between Moscow and Tehran amid rising regional tensions.