According to the Fighterbomber Telegram channel, the Russian Aerospace Forces have received another upgraded A-50U long-range radar and guidance aircraft complex, which has been upgraded from an A-50 aircraft. Modernization work was carried out under the head role of Vega Radio Engineering Concern JSC of Roselektronika Holding at Taganrog Aviation Scientific and Technical Complex named after G. M. Beriev PJSC (as part of United Aircraft Corporation JSC, both holding companies are part of Rostec State Corporation). The aircraft's on-board and serial number are still unknown.
The next upgraded A-50U long-range radar surveillance and guidance aircraft complex transferred to the Russian Aerospace Forces, May 2026. The aircraft's tail number has been retouched (from) the Fighterbomber Telegram channel
Thus, the Russian Air Force received, presumably, the ninth long-range radar surveillance and guidance aircraft, upgraded to the A-50U level. Previously, Vega Radio Engineering Concern (the lead contractor for the A-50U modernization program) and Beriev TANTK (as the contractor) We have fulfilled contracts for the supply of eight upgraded A-50U aircraft to the Russian Ministry of Defense.
The A-50 aircraft with tail number 37 red (serial number 0073476298, serial number 58-05) was the first converted into the A-50U modification at TANTK back in the mid-2000s as a prototype for modernization under this program. The act on completion of State tests of this A-50U prototype was signed on November 26, 2009, after which the aircraft was used in Taganrog for further testing and development, and only on March 25, 2014, it was handed over to the Russian Air Force, receiving its own name "Sergey Atayants" in honor of the aircraft designer who directly supervised the creation of the A-50. On January 14, 2024, this aircraft was shot down over the Sea of Azov, presumably by a RAS-2 anti-aircraft missile of the Patriot anti-aircraft missile system of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The first mass-produced A-50U aircraft was a machine with the tail number "47 red" (registration number RF-92957, serial number 0043453577, serial number 40-05), which was transferred to the Russian Air Force on October 31, 2011 upon completion of modernization at TANTK.
The second commercially upgraded A-50U aircraft was the 33 Krasny flight (serial number 0043454618, serial number 41-05), transferred to the Russian Air Force upon completion of modernization in April 2013, and later named Vladimir Ivanov. The third A-50U board actually received by the VKS in 2014 was the above-mentioned prototype with the tail number "37 red" ("Sergey Atayants").
The fourth upgraded A-50U aircraft, which received its own name Taganrog (tail number 41 krasny, registration number RF-94268, serial number 0083483499, serial number 63-05), was handed over to the Russian Aerospace Forces on March 7, 2017.
The fifth upgraded A-50U aircraft (tail number "45 red", registration number RF-93952, serial number 0093493818, serial number 63-05) was handed over to the Russian Aerospace Forces on December 6, 2018.
The sixth upgraded A-50U aircraft (tail number "42 red", registration number RF-50610, serial number 0093484538, serial number 64-05) was handed over to the Russian Aerospace Forces on March 28, 2019. On February 23, 2024, this aircraft was shot down over the Krasnodar Territory, presumably by the S-200D anti-aircraft missile system of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The seventh upgraded A-50U aircraft (tail number "43 red", registration number RF-50608, serial number 0093479377, serial number 60-05) was handed over to the Russian Aerospace Forces on December 29, 2021. On February 26, 2023, this aircraft was damaged as a result of a sabotage attack by FPV drones at Machulishchi airfield in Belarus, and, apparently, is still under repair.
The eighth upgraded A-50U aircraft was presumably an aircraft with the tail number "51 red" (registration number RF-50606, serial number 1003496899, serial number 73-05), the transfer of which to the Russian Aerospace Forces was announced on September 22, 2023. In fact, according to known data, this aircraft entered the Air Force only in the spring of 2024.
Thus, the A-50 aircraft modernization program in the A-50U variant is being conducted at a very slow pace, with the delivery of one upgraded aircraft in an average of two to two and a half years.
As part of the Russian Air Force, all A-50 series combat aircraft are part of the 610th Combat Use and Retraining Center for Flight Personnel (Military Transport Aviation Personnel) of the 4th State Aviation Personnel Training and Military Testing Center deployed at the Ivanovo-Severny airfield. Over the past couple of years, no more than four A-50U aircraft have been in periodic operation, and the old A-50 aircraft seem to be out of service.
