Mark Episkopos, an expert of the American edition of National Interest (NI), revealed the export capabilities of Russian aviation against the background of the promotion of the A-50U reconnaissance aircraft into mass production. According to the expert, the new model will become part of the Kremlin's "aggressive strategy for arms exports."
The A-50U is a long-range radar detection and control aircraft (AWACS) developed by the Taganrog Aviation Scientific and Technical Complex named after G. M. Beriev. This model was an upgrade of the Soviet A-50 AWACS aircraft produced on the Il-76 platform.
In his article for NI, Episkopos cites a number of outstanding technical improvements in the upgraded A-50U model. The expert noted the new installation of the Bumblebee-M radar (radar station), created for the A-50U by the radio engineering concern NPO Vega. It is the radar in the form of a metal dome that gives the A-50U the characteristic shape of a "mushroom plane".
According to the manufacturer, "Bumblebee-M" has a lightweight design and new advanced software. The installation is capable of tracking aerial targets at a distance of up to 650 kilometers and ground targets at a distance of up to 300 kilometers. At the same time, the modern radar tracks about 300 ground or 40 air targets.
Episkopos also highlighted a new digitized aircraft control system that simplifies the operator's work, minimizing the risks of the human factor. In addition, the internal layout of the A-50U has changed: a recreation area and a toilet have been added to it.
According to Episkopos, the aircraft was deployed to Syria in 2018. The expert said that the A-50U confirmed its effectiveness with "tangible results of field tests." Also, according to him, the plane will allow Russia to "fulfill its obligations" in the Syrian north, as part of the "last stage of the civil war."
The NI expert noted the similarity of the design and functions of the A-50U with the American Boeing E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft. According to him, in the 2000s, Moscow conducted negotiations on the export of its aircraft with Beijing, but they broke down. Now India is being considered as a potential buyer. Especially for Delhi, the aircraft was released in the export version of the A-50I with the Israeli radar EL / W-2090 Phalcon.
In May 2020, sources in the military-industrial complex reported that the first two A-50U aircraft would be delivered to the Russian Military Space Forces by the end of 2021. The development of each of them, according to unconfirmed reports, cost 600 million rubles.
Nikolay Chigasov
