Russia wants to deploy reconnaissance planes at French baseOctober 31, 2012 - 20:36 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Russia has asked France to allow the deployment of two Ilyushin Il-38 naval reconnaissance planes at a French base in Djibouti to facilitate its anti-piracy missions in the Gulf of Aden, Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said on Wednesday, Oct 31, RIA Novosti reported. “We have asked France to host two reconnaissance planes at its air base in Djibouti in addition to three French planes deployed there,” Serdyukov said after a meeting of the Russian-French Security Council in Paris. The Il-38 May is a Soviet-era maritime patrol aircraft still in service with the Russian Navy. The plane can fly at a maximum speed of 650 km/h. It has a range of 9,500 km and service ceiling of 10,000 meters. Russian warships have successfully escorted more than 130 commercial vessels from various countries through pirate-infested waters off the Somali coast since 2008, when Russia joined the international anti-piracy mission in the region. Task forces from the Russian Navy, usually led by Udaloy class destroyers, operate in the area on a rotating basis. However, the Russian military believes that the deployment of reconnaissance planes in the region would significantly improve the effectiveness of its anti-piracy missions. France maintains its largest foreign military base in its former colony located at the juncture of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The Djibouti base hosts several thousand French military personnel, as well as a number of military aircraft. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Your home is in Armenia – Ameriabank offers mortgage loans for the Diaspora To buy real estate, Diasporans can apply to Ameriabank online to buy, renovate or build a home anywhere in Armenia. Armenia-Qatar ties discussed in Doha The Secretary of Armenia’s Security Council met with the Deputy Secretary General of the National Security Council of Qatar. ARARAT special evening dedicated to Aznavour's 100th Anniv. On May 20 ARARAT legendary Armenian brandy, celebrated the centennial of Maestro Charles Aznavour with a special event. Surveying works underway in Armenia’s Kirants Surveying works are underway in the Armenian village of Kirants in the northern Tavush province. |