Russia to conduct surveillance flight over US

Moscow, Nov 25 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Russian military inspectors will begin a survey flight this week above the US under the international Open Skies Treaty, according to Russian defence ministry.

Russian experts will conduct the survey flight over the US territory in a Tupolev Tu−154 M/LK−1 aircraft between during the period from Nov 25 and Dec 3, a spokesman said.

The flight will start from the Travis Air Force Base, California. Its maximum range will be 4,250 km.

During the flight, Russian and US specialists will operate surveillance equipment on board of the aircraft as set out in the international Open Skies Treaty.

It will be the 36th survey flight this year made by Russian specialists over the territories of the Open Skies Treaty member states. Russia ratified the treaty in May 2001.

The Open Skies Treaty, which came into force Jan 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.

−−IANS/RIA Novosti

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IANS 2012-11-25 08:18:03