US, Norway to Conduct Observation Flight Over Russia Under Open Skies Treaty

The United States and Norway will conduct an aerial surveillance flight over Russia under the Treaty on Open Skies, the head of Russia's Nuclear Risk Reduction Center said Monday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russian experts will be on board the plane to oversee the observance of treaty clauses, he added.

"In accordance with the international Treaty on Open Skies, between September 19-24, a joint US-Norwegian mission will conduct a surveillance flight over the territory of Russia on board a US OC-135B observation aircraft taking off from the Kubinka airfield," Sergei Ryzhkov said.

The Treaty on Open Skies entered into force from 2002, providing for unarmed aerial surveillance flights between member states. With 34 states ratifying the agreement, 27 states are Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) members. Russia ratified the agreement in 2001.