Observation flight over Hungary by Russian AN-30B.

According to Sergei Ryzhkov, head of the Nuclear Risk Reduction Center, within the framework of the implementation of an international treaty on the Open Skies, the Russian Federation is conducting an observation flight on a Russian observation aircraft AN-30B over the territory of the Hungary.

A Russian AN-30B (Picture source: Anton Bannikov)

Observation flight over Hungary will be carried out in the period from March 4 to 8 from the Open sky Kecskemet Airport. The maximum flight range will amount to 860 km.
The Russian observation aircraft will fly along the agreed route and the Hungary's representatives on board will monitor the use of special equipment and compliance with the provisions of the Treaty on Open Skies.

Observation flights within the framework of the treaty are carried out in order to promote greater openness and transparency in the military activities of the participating States, as well as to enhance security through strengthening confidence-building measures.This is the forth observation flight made by the Russian Federation over the territories of the states-members of the treaty in 2019.

The Antonov An-30 (NATO reporting name: Clank), is a development of the An-24 designed for aerial cartography.