For a month and a half — January 14 and February 23, 2024 — Ukrainian military destroyed two Russian A-50 long-range radar detection aircraft.
These aircraft are designed to escort air targets and coordinate fighter pilots for missile attacks on Ukraine.
In addition, the A-50 can detect airborne objects moving at low altitude.
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What are the technical characteristics of the A-50 — learned ICTV Facts.
A-50 — what kind of plane is this
This is a Soviet and Russian aircraft long-range radar detection and control. Entered service in 1989.
A-50 was created on the basis of the military transport aircraft Il-76 to replace the old Tu-126. The radio-technical complex Shmel was added to the new aircraft, which forms the A-50 aviation radar surveillance and guidance complex.
Purpose A-50 AWACS is to identify and track air and surface targets, alert the Armed Forces about the air and surface situation.
Also, the A-50 can serve as a command post and be used to control fighters and strike aircraft when guiding them to specific targets.
AWACS A-50 has several modifications:
- A-50M — with the modernized Shmel-M complex.
- A-50І —Russian-Israeli modification of A-50.
- A-50ЕІ — export version for the Indian Air Force.
- A-50U — options for modernizing serial aircraft A-50.
Photo: russianplanes.net
Technical characteristics:
- Length: 48.27 m
- Wingspan: 50.5 m
- Height: 14.8 m
- Wing area: 300 m2
- Take-off weight: 190,000 kg
- Fuel volume: 109,480 l
Summer characteristics:
- Cruising speed: 800 km/h
- Practical range: 7500 km
- Run length: 1540 m
- Run length: 1050 m
- Flight duration: 9.3 hours (maximum without refueling)
- Thrust-to-weight ratio: 0.34 kgf/kg
A-50 radar station capable of detecting air targets at a range:
- bombers: up to 650 km
- fighters: 300 km
- cruise missiles: 215 km
