Lyla Lindsey
On 26 February 2023, a Belarusian anti-regime group known as the Association of Security Forces of Belarus (BYPOL) claimed to have conducted a drone attack on a Russian A-50 aircraft at the Machulishchy air base near Minsk, Belarus. The A-50, also known as the Mainstay, is a Soviet-origin airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft that has played a significant role in Russia's military operations, including the war in Ukraine and the Syrian Civil War. While satellite imagery following the claimed attack did not show significant damage to the aircraft, the incident highlights the vulnerability of military aircraft on airbases and the potential for drone attacks.
What You'll Learn
The A-50's role in the Russia-Ukraine conflict
The A-50 is a Soviet-origin airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft that has been used by Russia in its invasion of Ukraine. It is based on the Ilyushin Il-76 transport plane and was developed to replace the Tupolev Tu-126 "Moss". The A-50 first flew in 1978 and its existence was revealed to the Western Bloc in the same year by Adolf Tolkachev.
The A-50 can control up to ten fighter aircraft for either air-to-air intercept or air-to-ground attack missions. It has a detection range of 650km for air targets and 300km for ground targets. The aircraft can fly for four hours with a range of 1,000km from its base, at a maximum takeoff weight of 190 metric tons.
In February 2023, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a partisan group in Belarus reported that it had conducted a drone attack and damaged an A-50 at the Machulishchy air base near Minsk. However, satellite imagery of the base from 28 February showed no significant damage to the aircraft.
In November 2023, the British Defence Ministry stated that it was "likely" that Russian forces were updating their A-50 early warning aircraft in anticipation of the West supplying modern fighter jets to Ukraine. The A-50 may also be integrated with the ground-based S-400 missile systems.
On 14 January 2024, Ukrainian forces claimed to have shot down an A-50 over the Sea of Azov. The aircraft reportedly disappeared from radar and stopped responding to requests from tactical aviation. Later, several Western and Ukrainian sources reported that the pilot of a Russian Su-30 aircraft had detected the fire and crash of an unidentified aircraft in the area, presumably the A-50. This was further claimed to leave the Russian air force with just two serviceable A-50s. However, as of 15 January 2024, the Kremlin had neither confirmed nor denied the downing of an A-50.
On 23 February 2024, Ukrainian sources claimed the downing of a second A-50 aircraft over Krasnodar Krai. Ukrainian armed forces claim to have used a long-range S-200 system to shoot down the plane in the evening of 23 February over the Sea of Azov. According to Ukrainian sources, 10 Russians were killed, including five majors.
The A-50 has played a significant role in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, providing airborne early warning and control capabilities to support Russian military operations. Its ability to track and detect targets has been crucial for Russia's air and ground-based attacks. However, the Ukrainian forces have also successfully targeted A-50s, claiming to have shot down two of them during the conflict.
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Drone attacks on the A-50 in Belarus
On February 26, 2023, a Belarusian anti-government group claimed to have damaged a Russian A-50 aircraft in a drone attack at the Machulishchy air base near Minsk, Belarus. The A-50, also known as "Mainstay", is a Soviet-designed airborne early warning and control aircraft. It has a range of 1,000 kilometres and can control up to ten fighter aircraft.
The attack was reportedly carried out by a small quadcopter drone, which landed on the radar dome of the A-50 before taking off again. This was captured on video and released by the Belarusian partisan group, BYPOL, on March 2, 2023. The video did not show any signs of an explosion or damage to the aircraft. However, BYPOL claimed that the drone attack caused damage to the front and central parts of the plane, including its radar antenna and avionics.
Subsequent satellite images of the Machulishchy air base from February 28 showed no significant damage to the sole A-50 located there. However, the drone attack highlighted the vulnerability of military aircraft on airbases and the potential for more destructive attacks using drones.
On March 3, 2023, BYPOL released another video showing a drone landing on the domed area of the A-50's fuselage, followed by a loss of video signal, which they claimed was due to an explosion. This video appeared to support the claim that a drone attack was carried out. However, it was unclear why BYPOL did not release this footage earlier. The extent of the damage caused to the aircraft, if any, could not be assessed from the available images.
The A-50 aircraft has been a significant asset for Russia in its military operations. In 2022, the U.S. escalated the development of its own early warning and control aircraft in response to the emerging arsenal of stealth fighters and advancements in AEW&C capabilities by China and Russia. The vulnerability of the A-50 to drone attacks, as demonstrated by the Belarusian partisans, underscores the importance of protecting military airbases from drone incursions and potential attacks.
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The A-50's technological capabilities
The A-50 is a Soviet-origin airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft. It is based on the Ilyushin Il-76 transport plane and was developed to replace the Tupolev Tu-126. The A-50 first flew in 1978 and entered service in 1985, with about 40 produced by 1992.
The A-50 is equipped with a large Liana surveillance radar system that has a detection range of 650 kilometres for air targets and 300 kilometres for ground targets. The radar is housed in an over-fuselage rotodome with a diameter of 9 metres. The A-50 can control up-to ten fighter aircraft for air-to-air intercept or air-to-ground attack missions. It has a maximum speed of 850 km/h and a range of 1,000 kilometres from its base. The aircraft can be refuelled by Il-78 tankers.
The A-50 has seen action in recent years, including in Syria during the Russian military intervention in the Syrian Civil War and in Ukraine during the ongoing conflict. In February 2023, there were reports of a drone attack on a Russian A-50 at the Machulishchy air base in Belarus by a partisan group. However, satellite imagery later confirmed that the aircraft was intact.
The A-50 has undergone modernisation since its introduction, with the development of the A-50U variant, which features improved avionics and crew comfort. The A-50U has a higher endurance than its predecessor and is equipped with an advanced Shmel II radar system, providing enhanced situational awareness and tracking capabilities.
In summary, the A-50 is a powerful AEW&C platform that has played a significant role in Russia's military operations. Its large radar system and ability to control multiple fighter aircraft make it a valuable asset for the Russian Air Force. However, it has also become a target for partisan groups, as seen in the reported attack in Belarus.
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The A-50's development and upgrades
The Beriev A-50, or the "Mainstay", is a Soviet-origin airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft. It is based on the Ilyushin Il-76 transport plane and was developed to replace the Tupolev Tu-126 "Moss". The A-50 first flew in 1978, with its existence revealed to the Western Bloc by Adolf Tolkachev in the same year.
The A-50's 15-man crew operates the large Liana surveillance radar, which has a detection range of 650km for air targets and 300km for ground targets. The A-50 can control up to ten fighter aircraft for air-to-air intercept or air-to-ground attack missions. It has a maximum takeoff weight of 190 metric tons and can fly for four hours with a range of 1,000km from its base.
In 2003, development work began on a modernized version, the A-50U, which features a new digital avionics suite that speeds up data processing and improves signal tracking and target detection. The A-50U also includes upgraded crew rest, toilet, and galley facilities. The first A-50U was delivered to the Russian Air Force in 2011, and as of September 2023, eight A-50U aircraft have been delivered.
The A-50U upgrade forms the basis for the Beriev A-100 AEW&C, which will feature a new Vega Premier active electronically scanned array radar. While it was announced that production of the A-50U would restart in 2024, it is likely that this will be delayed for a few years.
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The A-50's limitations and vulnerabilities
The A-50 has several limitations and vulnerabilities that have been exposed in recent years.
Firstly, the A-50's radar system has been deemed outdated, with the aircraft once considered obsolete before its update in the early 2010s. The original Shmel radar system had limited capabilities, with a shorter detection range and the ability to track only 200 objects and support 20 aircraft with data. This presented limitations in the aircraft's ability to gather critical tactical information and enhance battlefield awareness.
Secondly, the A-50's vulnerability to drone attacks has been exposed. In February 2023, a Belarusian anti-regime group claimed to have damaged a Russian A-50 at the Machulishchy air base in Minsk, Belarus, by crashing two drones into the aircraft. Although satellite images later showed the plane to be intact, the incident highlighted the vulnerability of military aircraft on airbases to drone attacks. This is a significant concern, as it exposes the potential for enemy forces to infiltrate airbases and cause damage to aircraft.
Thirdly, the A-50 has a limited range and endurance. The aircraft can fly for up to four hours with a range of 1,000 kilometres from its base. This limitation may restrict its effectiveness in long-range or extended missions. Additionally, the A-50's speed may be considered a limitation, with a maximum speed of 850 km/h and a cruise speed of 750-800 km/h.
Finally, the A-50 has faced production and delivery delays. While it was announced that production of the A-50U would restart in 2024, it is likely that there will be delays, and the resumption of production may be pushed back by several years. This could impact the availability and deployment of the aircraft.
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Frequently asked questions
The Beriev A-50 is a Soviet-origin airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft. It is Russia's answer to the United States' E-3. The A-50 has a top-mounted radome that contains a rotating radar that scans 360 degrees, detecting aircraft as far as 250 miles away.
On February 26, 2023, a Belarusian anti-regime group claimed to have destroyed a Russian A-50 aircraft at the Machulishchy air base near Minsk, Belarus. However, satellite images from February 28, 2023, showed that the aircraft was still largely intact.
The A-50 plays an important role in Russia's invasion of Ukraine by providing early warning and vector information on low-flying Ukrainian aircraft. This information helps Russian interceptors such as the Mikoyan MiG-31s and Sukhoi Su-35s to launch attacks on Ukrainian warplanes.
