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 — Russia’s defense ministry has released information about its weapons procurement in 2011, and has already approved its buying plan for 2012. According to Deputy Minister Alexander Sukhorukov, the ministry purchased 30 Topol-M (SS-27 Sickle B) and Yars ballistic missiles, four military satellites, 21 aircraft, 82 helicopters, one Stereguschiy class corvette, 8,531 military trucks and other military hardware.
Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Co. only delivered one-third of the number of Superjet 100 aircraft it had planned for last year, yet the ones it did deliver to Armavia and Aeroflot are logging high daily utilization numbers. As it prepares to receive European type certification early this year, the company is increasing delivery volumes and expanding training facilities to ensure smooth operations for new customers.
Russia is adapting its military to new threats, most of which come from neighbors. This large-scale reform started in 2008, after the war with Georgia over the breakaway republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and is aimed at enabling the military to quickly respond to local challenges. In a presentation on the new shape of the armed forces, Army Gen. Nikolay Makarov, chief of the general staff, confirmed that Russia could be involved in conflict around most of its borders.
