Joint Canadian-British-Czech mission makes observation flight over Belarus and Russia


A joint mission from Canada, Britain and the Czech Republic will be making an observation flight over the Republic of Belarus and Russia on a C-130J Canadian aircraft from May 27 to June 1, 2019 in compliance with the International Treaty on Open Skies, the Russian Defense Ministry said.


Joint Canadian British Czech mission makes observation flight over Belarus and Russia C-130J (Picture source: Sgt Neil Bryden)


The inspectors are flying on a route, which has been agreed with the Russian side. There are Russian experts onboard the surveillance aircraft to control strict observance of all the agreed parameters and the application of surveillance equipment envisaged by the open skies treaty," the ministry said.

C-130J surveillance aircraft is not meant for weapons. The aircraft and its surveillance equipment (aerial photo cameras) have been certified by an international panel, which also comprised Russian experts. This fact rules out the use of technical means that are not envisaged by the Open Skies Treaty.


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