According to the Chief of the National Center of reducing nuclear danger Sergei Ryzhkov, Russian group of inspectors plans to perform an observation flight using An-30B Russian aircraft over the territory of Spain and Portugal within the Treaty on Open Skies.

The observation flight will be performed on February 29 – March 3 with maximum range of 1,200–1800 kilometers. The aircraft will take off from the from Lisbon and Getafe airfields.

The Russian observation aircraft will follow the route confirmed by the observed party and specialists from Spain and Portugal on its board will control the equipment usage procedure and adherence to the terms provided for by the Treaty.

The observation flight is performed to provide higher level of transparency in the military activity of the treaty countries as well as to increase security by trust enhancing measures.

This is the 4th and 5th observation flights of the Russian Federation over territories of the treaty countries in 2015.