The target was hit over the Sea of Azov.
A-50 aircraft, illustrative photo
On the evening of February 23, Ukrainian military shot down another 5 .
The information was confirmed by the commander of the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Nikolai Oleshchuk.
Oleschuk thanked the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense and everyone who ensured the result.
The head of the Presidential Office, Andrei Ermak, also responded to the downing of an enemy aircraft.
For the first time, the Russians lost an A-50 long-range radar detection and control aircraft with tail number RF-50601 “Red” in the skies over Ukraine in January of this year. Then it also became known that the Il-22M11 aircraft command post was damaged. Why the A-50 is an important target
- The A-50 is a long-range radar detection and control aircraft based on the Il-76 military transport aircraft, which made its first flight on December 19, 1978. It was developed to replace the already outdated Tu-126 by the Taganrog Scientific and Technical Aviation Complex and the Vega Research and Production Association. Operation of prototypes began in 1985, and the aircraft was adopted by the Soviet army in 1988.
- In Soviet times, the industry managed to produce about 31 aircraft; to this day there are not many “living” aircraft left, only about 12 in different variations: 9 in service with the Russian PKS in the A-50 and A-50U variations (3 and 6, respectively), the rest – in service with the Indian Armed Forces.
- The aircraft is equipped with the Shmel radio-technical complex based on the Soviet on-board electronic computer “Argon-50”.
- There are 10 people working on board the aircraft with the complex 11 operators: commander, senior guidance navigator, two guidance navigators, senior support operator, two support operators, and RTK, radar and communications flight engineers. Together with them there are 5 flight crew members on board.
- The aircraft is capable of conducting reconnaissance of air, ground and surface targets. Through optical-electronic on-board systems, the aircraft can detect ballistic missile plumes at a distance of up to 800 kilometers, and the radar station is capable of finding and tracking aircraft and cruise missiles at distances of up to 700 kilometers.
- Targets similar to air defense launchers. ballistic missiles – at a distance of up to 400 kilometers, and a concentration of armored vehicles – up to 450.