MOSCOW (Sputnik) — According to the official, this observation flight would be the 34th one conducted by Russia in 2017.
“An observation flight will be carried out from the Warsaw airfield. Its maximum range will reach 1,400 kilometers [870 miles]. A Russian observational plane will fly along the coordinated route with Polish experts on board monitoring both the use of observation equipment and fulfillment of the treaty’s provisions,” Ryzhkov said, as quoted by Russia's Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper.
The Russian experts also plan to inspect a 12,000-square kilometer area in the Czech Republic from August 28-31, under the Vienna Document 2011 on confidence and security-building measures. The experts are set to evaluate whether any military activities are taking place on this portion of Czech territory.
The Treaty on Open Skies was signed in March 1992 and entered into force on January 1, 2002. It became one of the major confidence-building and arms-control measures in Europe after the Cold War. The treaty has established a system of observation flights over the states party to the accord in order to gather information about their military forces and activities.
