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.
MOSCOW — The Russian navy has begun operating the first serially upgraded Ilyushin Il-38N maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft. The flights started recently at the 859th combat employment and retraining center of naval aviation in Yeysk, on the Azov Sea, Ilyushin says. This modernized aircraft was handed over to the military in July and is expected to be used for conversion training.