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.
The operational capabilities of India’s air force will be significantly upgraded late this year when the service receives the first of three A-50EI airborne early warning aircraft. The aircraft, based on the Ilyushin Il-76 airframe, are being built by Beriev Aircraft Co. of Russia. The airborne early warning (AEW) systems will be installed by Israel Aircraft Industries’ Elta subsidiary. The AEW system incorporates IAI/Elta’s Phalcon radar, which uses active electronically scanned arrays.
ST Engineering Ltd. of Singapore has developed a concept vehicle that’s designed to maximize the use of network-centric capabilities, unmanned reconnaissance vehicles and soldiers in urban combat. Called “Mothership,” it is based on the Terrex 8 X 8 armored infantry fighting vehicle.
The Russian army will receive a new weapon this year, the tank- support combat vehicle, known by its acronym BMPT (Boevaya Mashina Podderzhki Tankov). The vehicle is primarily designed to protect tank formations from anti-armor weapons, a mission that has been carried out by motorized infantry units. It also will be tasked with suppressing artillery positions, light armored vehicles and infantry.
