Russian Aerospace Forces received seventh modernised A-50U
On 29 December 2021, the Russian Federation - Aerospace Forces (RF VKS) received their seventh modernised A-50U airborne long-range radar surveillance and guidance system (Airborne Warning and Control System - AWACS).
The aircraft has been jointly developed and produced by multiple subsidiaries of the State Corporation Rostec, most notably TANTK (PJSC Taganrog Aviation Scientific and Technical Complex) named after G.M.Beryev and the JSC Concern of Radio Engineering Vega, part of the Roselektronika holding.
The new A-50U Dalnee radiolokatsionnoe obnoruzhenie (DRLO, electronic warfare), registration RF-50608 and side number 43 Red (airframe number 0093479377, serial 60-05), was originally built as an A-50 back in 1987.
The upgraded AWACS was seen by spotters, still unpainted, during post-modernisation flight tests at TANTK Taganrog few months ago. It was modernised as part of the large-scale programme for the upgrade of the Russian AWACS fleet.
The A-50U was designed with the focus to detect fundamentally new types of low observable aircraft, as well as provide simultaneous tracking and guidance of greater number of targets. The aircraft also has a new flight and navigation system and the range and mission duration have been extended, especially due to use of modern electronics with lower weight. The user interface at the operator's workplaces has also been improved with high resolution large-area LCD displays and greatly improved ergonomics of the aircraft.
If we summarize the previous A-50U deliveries from the state order of the Russian Ministry of Defence, we can see that the A-50U programme is being conducted at a rather low pace, one aircraft in roughly two years. All A-50s in service with the RF VKS are part of the 610 CBP i PLS (610th Center for combat use and retraining of flight personnel of military transport aviation) which is an aviation group for the combat use of AWACS aircraft stationed at Ivanovo-Severny airfield. According to known data, the unit operates ten A-50s in total, seven A-50U and three legacy A-50 aircraft, not counting several other A-50s in storage.
In 2006, an A-50 with side number 37 Red was converted as a prototype for the A-50U programme. The state tests of the new type were finished by November 2009, after which the aircraft remained at TANTK Taganrog for further development and testing.
Overview of the known A-50U AWACS:
Photo by Bonsai (via RussianPlanes.net)