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.
Russia is determined to continue to strengthen the military, which it exploits for foreign policy goals and internal propaganda, however shrinking budgets—due to soft oil prices and a slumping national currency—have cast uncertainty on these plans.
MOSCOW — Russia’s military will resume development of the new Ilyushin Il-112V light transport aircraft that was suspended in 2010. The defense ministry signed a contract with United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) for development of the new aircraft, the deputy head of the corporation’s military aviation programs directorate, Vladislav Goncharenko, told the Echo of Moscow radio station. Deliveries are planned for 2018, he said.
