According to Sergey Ryzhkov, head of the Russian National center for nuclear risk reduction, a joint mission of the United States, Canada and Norway will perform an observation flight over the territory of the Russian Federation on a Swedish SAAB-340 observation plane from Kubinka airfield from February 25 to 29, 2020, as part of the implementation of the International Treaty on Open Skies.

During the flight along the agreed route, Russian specialists on board the observation aircraft will monitor the strict compliance with the agreed flight parameters and the use of the monitoring equipment stipulated by the Treaty.

The SAAB-340 surveillance aircraft belongs to a class of aircraft not intended for the use of any weapons. The aircraft and observation equipment installed on it (aerial cameras) underwent an international certification, in which Russian specialists took part, which precludes the use of technical means not covered by the Treaty.