Maksim covers aerospace developments in Central Asia for Aviation Week. He has worked for Russia's Air Transport Observer magazine and was in charge of several ATO sister aerospace publications after working for the Moscow-based CAST defense think tank.
Maksim has a degree in international relations from MGIMO University, Moscow.
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.
As part of its general rearmament effort, Russia continues to enhance nuclear deterrence. Significant attention is being paid to sea- and land-based components of the nuclear triad. The growing defense budget (see p. 43) is enabling industry to make substantial progress in developing and fine-tuning strategic weapons.
