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Beriev A-50 (Mainstay)

1984 COLD WAR MODERN AIRCRAFT

History

The Beriev A-50 (NATO codename: "Mainstay") provides the modern Russian Air Force with an airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) role - commonly referred to in the United States as an "early warning aircraft". The framework was that of the Cold War-era Soviet Ilyushin IL-76 "Frank" transport aircraft, which Beriev focused on making modifications for the production of the new aircraft for the AWACS role.

The most notable feature of the A-50 series is its radome, which is located on the rear portion of the fuselage. The aircraft entered service in 1984 and production spanned from 1978 to 1992, by which time about 40 prototypes had been completed.

The A-50 is still in service with the Russian Air Force and the Indian Air Force (albeit in modernized form) - the only two global operators.

The A-50 was developed as a successor to the aging Tupolev Tu-126 ("Moss") family of aircraft, which first entered the market in 1962 (and subsequently entered service in 1965). The Tu-126 was converted from the Tu-114 airliner and became the first Soviet AEW platform. The Ilyushin IL-76 prototype made its maiden flight in 1971 and was introduced in 1974, with nearly 1,000 built during its production cycle.

The aircraft proved to be versatile in the Soviet Empire and was therefore selected by the authorities for conversion to the AWACS role in the late 1960s, and work continued until the early to mid-1980s.

The first flight of the A-50 prototype took place on December 19, 1978, and 24 prototypes were delivered in 1984.

In addition to the obvious external structural additions, the transport's internal landscape has also been modified to accommodate a crew station for a total of 15 crew members. Mounted as a saucer suspended from the rear of the fuselage, the Liana surveillance radar system is a powerful system that can provide target tracking for aerial threats up to 650 kilometers (300 kilometers otherwise).

The radar is designed to assist in interception and ground attack missions, providing valuable battlefield surveillance and air traffic control.

Dimensions of the aircraft movement include a length of 152.7 feet, a wingspan of 165.5 feet, and a height of 48.4 feet. Curb weight is 165,400 lbs and MTOW is 365,000 lbs. Power comes from 4 Soloviev D-30KP turbofan engines, each producing 26,500 pounds of thrust, delivering speeds of nearly 560 mph and a range of up to 4,000 miles (built-in in-flight refueling can be seen in modern form, with Extended operating range).

Aircraft service ceiling is approximately 40,000 feet.

While the A-50 marked the initial standard production form, several modernized variants have since emerged, including the A-50M and A-50U. The M model added the aforementioned aerial refueling capabilities, and the 1995 U model had a major upgrade to its equipment (mainly the Vega-M radar equipment, which could track 50 targets simultaneously up to 125 nautical miles) and replaced the original first A - debug model.

The Indian Air Force uses the A-50E/I variant, which includes the Israeli EL/W-2090 series radar and the Aviadvigatel PS-90 A-76 series turbofan engine, also used in the Ilyushin IL-76 Built in this series is the Tupo Lev Tu-204 narrow-body aircraft and Ilyushin IL-96 wide-body aircraft.

The A-50I was a variant of the Chinese Air Force's planned installation of an Israeli radar, but U.S. pressure on Israel forced the cancellation of the design.

Several "disposable" aircraft were also developed: the Izdeliye-676 and Izdeliye-776 were both designed according to the "Telemetry and Tracking" platform. Added Izdeliye-976 (SKIP) as a cruise missile support vehicle (for missile tracking). Izdeliye-1076 became a "special mission" aircraft.

The Russian Air Force currently (2017) has about 22 A-50M variants in service, with an additional 4 A-50U available. The Indian Air Force maintains five stabilization units that serve with the 50th Squadron at Agra Air Base in north-central India.

Satellite imagery shows A-50s actively deployed in Syria during the Syrian civil war (since 2011), in which Russia was involved with the Assad regime.