Aircrafttotal Encyclopedia


41 Taganrog, registration number RF-94268, a Beriev A-50U
Role	Airborne early warning and control
Manufacturer	Beriev
First flight	19 December 1978
Introduction	1985
Status	In service
Primary users	Russian Aerospace Forces Indian Air Force
Produced	1978–1992
Number built	~40^[]
Developed from	Ilyushin Il-76
Developed into	Beriev A-100

The mission personnel of the 15-man crew derive data from the large Liana surveillance radar with its antenna in an over-fuselage rotodome, which has a diameter of 9 metres (30 ft) Detection range is 650 kilometres (400 mi; 350 nmi) for air targets and 300 kilometres (190 mi; 160 nmi) for ground targets. The A-50 can control[clarification needed] up to ten fighter aircraft for either air-to-air incept or air-to-ground attack missions. The A-50 can fly for four hours with a range of 1,000 kilometres (620 mi; 540 nmi) from its base, at a maximum takeoff weight of 190 metric tons (420,000 lb). The aircraft can be refuelled by Il-78 tankers

A Russian A-50U at Vladivostok International Airport 2019

Variants

A-50 – Original variant
A-50M – Updated^[] variant of the A-50 fitted with mid-air refueling
A-50U – Updated^[] variant of the A-50M with modern electronics and increased crew comfort
llyushin/Beriyev ‘Aircraft 676’ – A single stop-gap telemetry and tracking aircraft
llyushin/Beriyev ‘Aircraft 776^[ – A single stop-gap telemetry and tracking aircraft
llyushin/Beriyev ‘Aircraft 976' (SKIP) – (Airborne Check-Measure-and-Control Center) – Il-76-based Range Control and Missile tracking platform initially built to support Raduga Kh-55 cruise missile tests
Izdeliye 1076'^[– A single special-mission aircraft with unknown duties
A-50EI – A 2000s export version for the Indian Air Force with Aviadvigatel PS-90A-76 engines and Israeli EL/W-2090 radar

Beriev A-50 (NATO reporting name: Mainstay) airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft

Beriev A-50 (NATO reporting name: Mainstay)
airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft

General Info

Crew: 15
Length: 49.59 m (162 ft 8 in)
Wingspan: 50.5 m (165 ft 8 in)
Height: 14.76 m (48 ft 5 in)
Wing area: 300 m² (3,200 sq ft)

Powerplant

Empty weight: 75,000 kg Max takeoff weight: 170,000 kg Powerplant: 4 × Soloviev D-30KP turbofan engines, 117.68 kN (26,460 lbf) thrust each

Performance

Maximum speed: 900 km/h
Range: 7,500 km (4,700 mi, 4,000 nmi)
Service ceiling: 12,000 m

Aircraft Of Comparable Role, And Era

- Related development
  - KJ-2000
  - Boeing E-3 Sentry (AWACS)
  - EL/W-2090

Special Links Beriev A-50 (NATO reporting name: Mainstay) airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft

Links to Youtube & Others

On 23 February 2024, Ukrainian official sources claimed the downing of a second A-50U aircraft, over Krasnodar Krai, at 18:44 Ukraine local time.[UA government website 1] Ukrainian armed forces claim to have used a long-range S-200 system to shoot down the A-50 in the evening of 23 February over the Sea of Azov. According to Ukrainian sources, 10 Russians were killed on the plane, including five majors. The aircraft was later identified as A-50U "42 red" of the 610th CBP i PLS.

Beriev A-50 Mainstay

The aircraft may also be integrated with the ground based S-400 missile systems

Youtube Link

The Beriev A-50 once became famous throughout the world for its aerial surveillance capabilities.

Beriev A-50 Mainstay,
airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft

Beriev A-50 Mainstay
(AEW&C) aircraft

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History Beriev A-50 (NATO reporting name: Mainstay)
airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft