In addition to writing for Aviation Week Network, Maxim holds a key position at Russia's Air Transport Observer magazine (www.ato.ru). In the past he was in charge of several ATO sister aerospace publications and earlier worked for the Moscow-based CAST defense think-tank.
Maxim has a degree on international relations from MGIMO University, Moscow, Russia, and for several years worked at the Russian Foreign Ministry.
The new space plan provides 1.4 trillion rubles ($20.5 billion) through 2025—but largely guts earlier proposals to send humans to the Moon in the next decade and leaves in doubt timing of a joint mission to Mars with the European Space Agency.
Russia continues to renew its military arsenals, albeit at a slower pace in 2015 than the prior year and as weakening currency is constraining its purchasing power.