A spokesman for the Russian Air Force stated on the 11^th April that as many as 12 military aircraft would be used to break up clouds over Moscow on May 9^th – the occasion of Russia’s Victory Day.

The measure is to be used as a means of guaranteeing good weather above Red Square.

According to reports, the aircraft will deploy safe and environmentally friendly chemicals to disperse the clouds and eliminate the chance of rain.

In 2007, a similar technique was employed, and involved the use of cement powder, dry ice and silver iodide.

According to Colonel Drobyshevsky, the exercise will be performed by the Russian Air Force’s “most experienced An-12, Il-18 and An-26 [transport aircraft] crews."

End of World War Two

Victory Day is an annual commemoration of the date that Nazi Germany fell to the Soviet Union during World War Two. In a wider context, it marks the formal end of the global conflict.

Russian Air Force Flypast

The May 9^th flypast will see over 30 Russian Air Force aircraft participating.

Types featured are set to include Tupolev Tu-95 Bear and Tu-95 160 Blackjack strategic bombers, Mig 31 interceptors, Sukhoi Su-34 strike aircraft and Antonov An-124 heavylifters, as well as multiple helicopters.

On the ground, meanwhile, equipment including T-90 tanks and BMP-3 armoured vehicles will be on show.

At the beginning of 2008, Sukhoi announced that the Su-34 had gone into full production.

Tu-95 Bears have been highly active in recent months – carrying out airborne patrol missions and sparking NATO combat jets to launch and escort them away. 

Source – Armed Forces International’s Aviation Expert

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