The Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) are armed with a new A-50U long-range radar detection and control (AWACS) aircraft.
The aircraft is designed to detect, track and determine the affiliation of air, sea and large ground targets, provide information about them to command posts, and direct military aviation strike assets to sea, ground and air targets.
Military analyst Evgeny Damantsev noted that the A-50U is equipped with the Shmel-M X-band over-fuselage radar complex. The system is capable of detecting targets with an effective reflecting surface (ERS) of 0.1 m² at a distance of about 110-120 km, with an ERS of 0.03 m², which is equivalent to a SCALP-EG cruise missile, about 75 km against the background of air space and 50 km against the background of the earth's surface.
The machine is also capable of detecting ground radio-contrast targets such as OTRK launchers at a distance of 300 km, a tank company up to 200-250 km, and dispersed tanks and infantry fighting vehicles up to 120-150 km.
The A-50U received new electronics with greater speed and performance, which made it possible to increase the capabilities of functional software.
The aircraft is equipped with new large-resolution and large-size LCD monitors, which increased the efficiency of the radar situation display system, and the improved ergonomics of the aircraft reduced the fatigue of the tactical crew.
Earlier www1.ru reported that in the USSR the An-71 project was developed as a response to the American Hawkeye AWACS aircraft. However, it was closed due to the collapse of the Soviet Union.
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