![]() |
|
![]() |
|
A-50 MAINSTAY AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING AND CONTROL SYSTEM, RUSSIA |
The A-50 airborne early warning and control aircraft was developed and manufactured by the Beriev Aircraft Research and Engineering Complex Joint Stock Company based at Taganrog in the Rostov Region of Russia. The A-50 aircraft was developed from the llyushin Il-76MD military transport aircraft manufactured by the Ilyushin Aviation Complex Joint Stock Company based in Moscow. The aircraft is known in the West by the NATO codename Mainstay. Beriev aircraft normally carry the Russian designation Be- followed by the number, however, the A-50 aircraft retained the well-known A-designation which Beriev allocated to the original prototype. The A-50 entered service with the Russian Air Force in 1984, and is thought to have 16 aircraft in service. The latest version, the A-50U was shown in 1995. The A-50 aircraft is intended to detect and identify airborne objects, determine their co-ordinates and flight path data and transfer the information to command posts. The A-50 also acts as control centre in guiding fighter-interceptors and tactical air forces aircraft to combat areas in order to attack ground targets at low altitudes. The role of the A-50 is comparable to that of the United States E-3 Airborne Early Warning system developed by Boeing. Beriev is to produce three A-50Ehl AEW aircraft for India with IAI of Israel providing the aircrafts electronic systems. China is reported to have ordered four A-50/A-50M/U aircraft from Russia. PERFORMANCE The A-50 carries out patrol missions at an altitude of 5,000 to 10,000 metres. The patrol service ceiling is 10 km. The maximum flight range of the aircraft is 5,000 km and the flight endurance is 7 hours 40 minutes. At a range of 2,000 km, the A--50 can remain on patrol for up to 1 hour 25 minutes. The aircraft is manned by five flight crew and 10 mission crew. RADAR SYSTEM
|
5.56mm