MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The Russian Defense Ministry noted that C-130J is not equipped to carry on board and use any weapons.
"During the November 2-6 period, in compliance with the Open Skies Treaty, a joint mission of the United States and Canada is planning to perform an observation flight over the Russian territory on a Canadian C-130J observation aircraft," Ryzhkov said in a statement.
In the course of the observation mission, Russian specialists on board the aircraft will monitor compliance with the agreed parameters of the flight and the use of agreed observation equipment, according to the statement.
It was signed in March 1992 and became one of the major confidence-building measures in Europe after the Cold War. It entered into force on January 1, 2002, and currently has 34 States Parties, including Russia and the majority of the NATO countries.
Moscow ratified the Treaty on Open Skies on May 26, 2001.
The treaty allows its participants to openly gather information on each other's military forces and activities.
