A joint mission of France, Germany, and Romania will carry out an observation flight over Russia this week under the Treaty on Open Skies, the head of Russia’s National Nuclear Risk Reduction Centre, Sergei Ryzhkov, said.
The observation flight will be carried out using the Romanian An-30 aircraft. Russian specialists on board the plane will be monitoring the use of observation equipment, according to Ryzhkov.
Meanwhile, Russian inspectors plan to carry out an observation flight over the territory of France on 21-25 September using the Russian Tu-154M-LK-1 observation aircraft.
According to the head of Russia’s National Nuclear Risk Reduction Centre, the maximum range of the flight over France will be 2,078 kilometres (about 1,291 miles). French specialists on board the aircraft will be monitoring the use of observation equipment by Russian inspectors.
The Treaty on Open Skies allows its participants to carry out aerial surveillance as part of a program of scheduled observation flights. More than 30 countries are participating in the program created to boost the transparency of military activities.
Featured photo: Igor Dvurekov