Russia deploys another A‑50 aircraft following alleged downing in Sea of Azov
In NATO parlance, the A-50 is known as 'Mainstay'. It's an AWACS (Airborne Early Warning and Control Aircraft), often dubbed as the "eyes" of Russian aviation. Recently, there have been numerous reports and analyses surrounding the alleged downing of this type of plane over the Sea of Azov.
Russia has refrained from commenting on these reports, but it has been observed that another plane of the same type has taken off. Meanwhile, British intelligence has noted that its operations are confined to Russian airspace.
"It's highly probable that this activity reflects a decreased appetite for risk by the bombers, along with an attempt to conserve the remaining A-50s, even at the expense of their overall effectiveness over Ukraine," stated in a daily intelligence update.
The A-50 aircraft is a precious asset for Russia, not just for its ability to deliver invaluable intel about the opponent's movements, which then gets relayed to command centers, but also due to the rarity of such units.
The A-50 is a four-engine aircraft designed to replace the Tupolev Tu-126. It is almost 164 feet long and approximately 49 feet tall. It can reach speeds of up to 559 miles per hour and operate at an altitude of up to 42,650 feet. Its range is estimated to be 4,660 miles.
The A-50 can monitor hundreds of objects simultaneously, including those on land and at sea, in addition to airborne ones. The Szmiel system, characterized by a massive antenna, facilitates this and assists other Russian planes in the air by providing better situational awareness.
As reported by Norbert Garbarek, a journalist with Virtual Poland, the destruction of the A-50 could have been a result of an intricate trap laid for the Russians. It is believed that Patriot PAC-2, PAC-3, or S-300 missiles were likely used.
