If the USA denies access to this aircraft then the whole 30+ nation Open Skies treaty will basically collapse. The point of it is that each nation is able to

If the USA denies access to this aircraft then the whole 30+ nation Open Skies treaty will basically collapse. The point of it is that each nation is able to monitor each other, within prescribed limits to number and duration of overflights and sensor resolution. I mean there isn't even a basis for this objection; the USA's OC-135s that participate in Open Skies are already fitted with synthetic-aperture radars ( SAROS ) and it's explicitly permitted in the Treaty: Open Skies aircraft can be equipped with four types of sensors: optical panoramic and framing cameras; video cameras; infrared line-scanning devices; and sideways-looking synthetic aperture radars. But the Russkies are fitting digital cameras! Those sneaky buggers. The OC-135s still use film cameras... embarrassing.