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Russian inspectors to patrol US skies

The flights will take place along the routes coordinated by the sides

MOSCOW, October 8 (Itar-Tass) — Russia’s inspectors will make observation flights over the United States within the framework of the Open Skies Treaty from October 8 to October 22, the press service of the Defence Ministry told Itar-Tass.

“Two observation flights onboard Russia’s Tupolev Tu-154-M-Lk-1 plane will be made. The mission will be carried out from the Air Force bases – Wright-Patterson and Travis,” the source said.

The flights will take place along the routes coordinated by the sides. Russian and U.S. specialists onboard will examine the observance of agreements on the use of surveillance means.

“This will be Russia’s 30th and 31st observation flights over territories of the Treaty’s signatory countries this year,” the press service said.

British inspectors, in turn, will patrol skies over Russia’s territory onboard the Swedish SAAB OS-100 observation aircraft from October 8 to October 12.

“The plane will take off from the Kubinka airfield near Moscow. The maximum flight distance is 5,500 kilometers,” the source said.

The Treaty on Open Skies was signed back in 1992. Among signatories are 34 countries. The observation flights encompass the territories of Canada, the United States, Europe and Russia.