Russia lost one of its AWACS. Ukrainians confirm the shooting down of the A-50

The Ukrainians reported that on Sunday, January 14, they managed to shoot down a Russian A-50 Beriyev early warning aircraft over the Sea of Azov. The flying command point, the Il-22M11 aircraft, was also allegedly damaged. The information was officially confirmed by the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valery Zaluzhny.

An A-50 Beriyev early warning aircraft, known as the “eyes” of Russian aviation, plays a crucial role in patrolling the sky and providing valuable information to the military. These aircraft usually operate in Russian airspace, ensuring their safety, but they can also be observed over Ukraine.

The Ukrainians boast about eliminating the A-50 plane

One of the A-50 Beriyev aircraft with the tail number RF-50601 was supposed to fly over the Sea of Azov on Sunday, January 14, where it was shot down, and the accompanying Il-22M11 aircraft was damaged. The official noted on social media: "Soldiers of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed the enemy A-50 long-range early warning aircraft and the enemy Il-22 flight control station".

It is worth recalling that this is not the first loss of this type for the Russians. One such machine was attacked by saboteurs while stationed at the military air base in Moczuliszcze, Belarus, in February 2023. The attack likely used small unmanned aerial vehicles, and the A-50 was significantly damaged.

https://twitter.com/maria_drutska/status/1746831310184710511

It is not yet known what means were used to shoot down the A-50 over the Sea of Azov. The Ukrainian Military Service speculates that they could have been surface-to-air missiles, air-to-air missiles, anti-radar missiles, and even friendly fire. It also does not rule out a mechanical failure.

Putin’s £260,000,000 spy plane ‘shot out of the sky’

The loss of the AWACS aircraft may be a severe blow to Russian aviation, especially since one A-50 costs approximately $330 million, and its production requires a considerable amount of time, work, and access to appropriate components. Additionally, according to Forbes, Russia has only nine A-50 aircraft, and one of them was damaged in February 2023 in Belarus.

The Beriev A-50 aircraft (NATO code "Mainstay") was developed as a successor to the Tupolev Tu-126 aircraft and is the result of cooperation between the Ilyushin and Beriyev companies. Its design is based on the Ilyushin Il-76 transport. The machine entered service in 1984. The A-50 is nearly 50 m long, approximately 15 m high, and its wingspan is 50.5 m. The plane can fly at a speed of 900 km/h, and its range is estimated at 7,500 km.

One of the most important elements of this machine's equipment is the Liana observation radar. It allows the detection and tracking of air targets at a distance of 650 km and ground targets at a distance of 300 km. The A-50 can be used in surveillance and interception missions, support ground attacks, and supervise activities carried out on the battlefield.