Russian Aerospace Forces Receive Modernized A-50U AEW&C Aircraft

The Russian Aerospace Forces received a modernized A-50U long-range airborne early warning and control aircraft.

The Russian propagandist Fighterbomber reported about this on his Telegram channel.

Russia has lost at least two such aircraft in the war against Ukraine.

The first aircraft, with tail number RF-50601 Krasny (ed. Red), was lost by the Russians in January 2024. Later, in February of the same year, the invaders lost a second plane over the Sea of Azov.

Videos circulated online from eyewitnesses showing the moment when dipole reflectors were deployed by a visually large aircraft that was actively maneuvering, followed by its destruction. Footage also emerged after the plane fell near the settlement of Trudovaya Armeniya in the Kanevsky District of Krasnodar Krai, showing a large-scale fire.

It later became known that Russia is trying a Ukrainian officer in absentia for the downing of the A-50 AEW&C aircraft over the Sea of Azov.

The Russians cynically describe the A-50 as “not intended for combat” and ‘unarmed,’ while calling the order to destroy it ‘illegal.’

А-50

The A-50 is a long-range airborne early warning and control aircraft based on the Il-76 military transport plane, which made its first flight on December 19, 1978.

It was developed to replace the then-obsolete Tu-126 by the Taganrog Scientific and Technical Aviation Complex and the Research and Production Association Vega. Testing of prototype aircraft began in 1985, and the plane was officially adopted into service by the Soviet Army in 1988.

During the Soviet era, the industry produced about 31 aircraft. Today, only a few remain operational – about 12 in various versions: 9 in service with the Russian Aerospace Forces (3 A-50 and 6 A-50U) and the rest in service with the Indian Armed Forces.

The aircraft is equipped with the Shmel (Bumblebee) radar system, which is based on the Soviet Argon-50 onboard computer. The A-50 can conduct reconnaissance of air, ground, and maritime targets.
Its electro-optical systems can detect the launch flares of ballistic missiles at distances of up to 800 km, while its radar can track aircraft and cruise missiles at ranges up to 700 km.

Air defense missile launchers and ballistic missile sites can be detected up to 400 km away, and concentrations of armored vehicles can be spotted up to 450 km away.