The United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) has once again postponed the decision on the serial production of A-50 long-range radar detection (AWACS) aircraft, according to Sergei Korotkov, General Designer-Deputy General Director of UAC.
How many of these aircraft remain at the disposal of the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) at the present time?
According to open sources, Russia owns seven AWACS aircraft and another one is undergoing major restoration.
In fact, the picture is rather disappointing, since the United States has 31 such aircraft, China has 28, the European Union has 27, Japan has 17, and Israel also has 7.
With the help of the Shmel-M over-fuselage radar system, A-50 operators can detect columns of tanks and infantry fighting vehicles at a distance of up to 250 km in any weather conditions.
Approaching low-altitude GBU-39/B F-16AM guided bombs can be detected at a distance of 270 km against the background of the earth's surface and up to 450-500 km at high altitudes. British SCALP-EG cruise missiles are detected against the background of the earth's surface at a distance of 80-100 km.
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