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 fifth prototype of the T-50 fifth-generation fighter made its first, 1-hr. flight in Komsomolsk-on-Amur on Oct. 28, manufacturer Sukhoi reports. After the factory trials, the aircraft T-50-5 will join the other four prototypes in a flight-test program in Zhukovsky, near Moscow, according to Sukhoi. Two more aircraft are involved in the ground test — one is used as a ground rig, and another for static tests.
MOSCOW — On Oct. 15, the first Mistral-class helicopter landing dock built for Russia was launched at the STX France shipyard in Saint Nazaire, France. The ship, named Vladivostok, had its keel-laying last February. Its after-body was built in Russia, at St. Petersburg Baltiysky Zavod, and arrived in France in July. The ship is expected to return to Russia for customization next year and to be handed over to the Russian navy in November 2014.
