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A-50 Mainstay Airborne early warning and control

A-50 Mainstay Airborne early warning and control. First flight: 1978
Photo archive Beriev AC Company

In numbers  Through the lens  Video

Radar patrol and guidance aircraft, created on the basis of the Il-76MD military transport aircraft with a powerful radio-technical complex (RTK) "Shmel" consisting of:

Equipment:

Radar “Shmel-2”

- detection range: bombers 650 km

- detection range of low-flying fighter targets: 200-400 km

- cruise missiles (S=1m2) 215 km

- surface ships (S=250 m2) +400 km

- torches of non-ballistic missiles by optical means 800 km

Number of detected and tracked targets: up to 300.

Simultaneously radar management of aircraft fighters: 12 (30).

Antenna diameter 10,2 (10,5) m.

To increase the flight range, the aircraft was equipped with an in-flight refueling system using the "probe-and-drogue" method. The first flight was made on December 19, 1978 (without to radar on board) and with radar on August 16, 1979. A total of 20 (31) aircraft were produced, which are in service with the Russian Aerospace Forces (VVS). 

 

Modifications:
A-50: Pre-production version.
A-50M: Upgraded version with modernized Shmel-M type radar.
A-50E: Export aircraft. Systems and equipment stand out. In 1998 an aircraft was converted.
A-50EI: Export aircraft for the Indian Air Force. It was developed with the cooperation of Israel. mounted, antenna on a fixed base (not rotating). In 1999 the aircraft was re-equipped.
Adnan 1 (Baghdad): An Iraqi Air Force IL-76MD. converted to AEW&C. In place of the loading ramp, a Tiger-G system manufactured by the French company Thomson CSF was installed, on a fixed base and in a canopy that protruded to the rear.
Adnan 2: It was deployed at the Adnan 1 base for the control and direction of fighters.

 



Technical specifications

DESIGNER OKB Ilyushin, Beriev
COUNTRY Russia
TYPE
Airborne early warning and control.
CREW 5 (+10 operators)
POWER-PLANT Four turbofan engines PS-90Α
Thrust, kgf 4x16.000
DIMENSIONS  
Length, m 46,59
Height, m 14,80
Wing span, m 50,50
Wing area, m2 300,00
Diametr antenna, m 10,20
WEIGHT  
Maximum take-off, kg 190.000
Normal take-off, kg 180.000
Empty aircraft, kg -
Internal fuel, kg -
Payload, kg -
PERFORMANCE  
Maximum speed, km/h -
Economic speed, km/h -
Cruising speed, km/h 800
Service ceiling, m 12.000
Range, km 7.500
Combat range, km -
ARMAMENT Doesn't have (defensive).