MOSCOW, April 15 (RIA Novosti) - Russian military inspectors will make surveillance flights over the territory of Poland under the international Open Skies Treaty within a period starting Monday, the Russian Defense Ministry has reported.
Russian experts will conduct the inspection flights on board an Antonov An-30B (Clank) aircraft between April 15 and 19, the ministry said in a statement.
The aircraft will take off from Warsaw Airport to cover a total distance of 1,400 kilometers (870 miles).
During the flights, Russian and foreign specialists will monitor the operation of surveillance equipment on board the aircraft as set out in the Open Skies Treaty.
This will be Russia’s tenth observation flight this year under the agreement.
The Open Skies Treaty, which entered into force on January 1, 2002, establishes a regime of unarmed aerial observation flights over the territories of its 34 member states to promote openness and the transparency of military forces and activities. Russia ratified the deal in May 2001.
Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that Turkish and Norwegian inspectors would conduct inspection flights over Russia in the same period, between April 15 and 19, on board a CASA CN-235 aircraft under the treaty.
