The situation is stalemate: to what extent do Russian missile attacks depend on the presence of the A-50 aircraft

In 2024, Ukraine destroyed more than two Russian A-50 airborne early warning aircraft. After the collapse of the USSR, production stopped, so Russia can no longer produce such aircraft. In total, the occupiers had nine aircraft, some of which needed to be modernized.

However, modernization takes about 2 years, and besides, the Russians lack technical and technological components. Therefore, as the military-political observer of the Information Resistance group “Alexander Kovalenko” told 24 Channel , Russia is now half-blind, because everything depended on the A-50, and even the possibility of missile attacks .

Russia has lost its “eyes” in the sky

Kovalenko emphasized that everything in Russia depends on the A-50 long-range radar detection aircraft, in particular:

• control of the airspace of Ukraine: where our tactical aviation operates and what launches we carry out;
• intelligence information about air and ground launches for its tactical aviation, so that it can carry out strikes with CABs, and for strategic aviation, so that it can launch missile attacks on the rear of Ukraine;
• the possibility of increasing the coverage radius of means air defense, for example S-400 “Triumph”.

This is a large amount of information that the Russian occupation forces receive precisely thanks to the A-50. Now they are half-blind, their tactical aviation is half-blind, their strategic aviation is also half-blind,” noted the military-political observer. cover the territory up to the line of combat contact, this information will be critically insufficient, but they will be at a safe distance.

Despite this, the Russians will be forced to approach the airspace of temporarily occupied territories, to receive enough necessary information, but here again the zone will be extreme.

The situation is a stalemate. One way or another, they will have to return to where something can very quickly approach and destroy them, noted Kovalenko.

Russians’ problems due to the downing of A-50

• The Air Force reported that on February 23 they managed to “land” an enemy long-range radar aircraft detection of A-50. It was shot down over the Sea of ​​Azov, and it fell in the Krasnodar region of Russia.
• On the same day, the Russian media distributed a statement by the general director of the Russian corporation Rostec, Sergei Chemezov, about the resumption of aircraft production A-50.
• However, the occupiers can only restore equipment, but not produce it in any way. Since the weight of electronic equipment on the A-50 reaches 20 tons, many different components were used for this. And it is unlikely that the occupiers will be able to get them now.
• The UK Ministry of Defense said that Russia may try to return previously mothballed A-50 aircraft into service in order to improve the situational awareness of aircraft crews.