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.
Douglas Barrie (London), Maxim Pyadushkin (Moscow)
Russia’s leading guided-weapons manufacturer will wheel out revised—if long- touted—versions of its two key air-to-air missile products this month, as it tries to bolster its position in the export arena. Tactical Missile Corp.—also known as TRV—will formally unveil its so-called RVV-SD and RVV-MD missiles for the first time at the Moscow air show later this month. The RVV-SD is an improved version of the R-77 (AA-Adder), while the RVV-MD is a variant of the R-73 (AA-11 Archer).
The Russian navy plans to boost rearmament efforts by acquiring new classes of surface ships. The service is due to receive more than 40% of the defense budget this year, according to government officials, though most of the money will be spent on nuclear submarines.
Construction of Russia’s new multirole Yasen-class nuclear submarine, Kazan, began at Sevmash’s facilities in Severodvinsk July 24. It is the second sub of this class — the first ship, Severodvinsk, was laid down in 1993 and is expected to be commissioned in 2011. The Russian Navy reportedly plans to have six Yasen class submarines. “We need these submarines for all our fleets,” said Navy Deputy Commander Nikolay Borisov at the lay-down ceremony.
