Russian strike and reconnaissance assets can operate against long-range "Flamingo" missiles as a single system. The A-50U AWACS aircraft detects low-flying targets in advance, and this information is then used for striking the launch position or interception, a scheme explained by military observer Gennady Alekhin.
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According to him, launching a "Flamingo" requires preparation, so the mobile complex is tied to an equipped position for several tens of minutes.
A missile of this class is not rolled out to the front line. A launcher with 20–40 minutes of pre-launch preparation, a missile on the rail, and a ground control station requires a sheltered rear area — with access roads, fuel, and security.
Iskanders are capable of hitting identified positions, and Geran jet drones are used as another tool for search and engagement. This scheme allows combating not only the missile itself but also the infrastructure of its use.
Retired Major General Vladimir Popov estimated the number of A-50U aircraft in the Russian Aerospace Forces to be around 25-27 units. This estimate differs significantly from the calculations of foreign analysts, who cited a figure 3 times lower.
Against this background, there were even suggestions to convert civilian SJ-100s into AWACS aircraft, but there are limitations on radar size.