Russian A-50U long-range radar detection and control aircraft have become one of the key elements of the system for detecting low-flying cruise missiles. According to foreign sources, their use has significantly increased the effectiveness of air defense against "Flamingo" missiles.
The main advantage of the A-50U is its ability to detect aerial targets at a significant distance thanks to its powerful onboard radar complex. The air surveillance range reaches 800 km.
The aircraft is capable of simultaneously controlling a large number of targets and transmitting information about the air situation to ground control points.
For a low-flying cruise missile, such a scheme is especially important. Ground-based radars are limited by the radio horizon: terrain, forests, and buildings can conceal the target until the last moment. The A-50U is at a high altitude and can detect such objects much earlier.
After detection, the target coordinates are transmitted to air defense systems, which can organize an interception without having to independently search for the missile at extremely low altitudes.
Sergey Bendin, a member of the Russian Geographical Society, noted that AWACS aircraft have a serious drawback – after 6 hours of duty in the air, the aircraft platform must be taken to an airfield for refueling and crew change.