The Russian Aerospace Forces is to receive two modernised A-50U radars in 2021. Capabilities of these aircraft will be increased significantly compared to their predecessors -taking into account the combat experience gained in Syria.
Sources in the military-industrial complex talked to Izvestia about this. The Au-50U proved its excellence in Syria, however, the upgrade will be made to suit them for the domestic use. The radar will be upgraded, as well as control and communication systems. According to sources, the equipment will become especially effective for tracking cruise missiles and fighter control.
Modernisation of the airborne early warning and control system (AEW&C) aircraft will be carried out at the Taganrog Aviation Scientific and Technical Complex named after G.M. Beriev. The cost of each of them will amount to more than 600 million Rubles ($8.3 million). According to the source cited by Izvestia, the radar is the main focus of this project.
“During the modernisation, the machine’s resistance to interference from electronic warfare stations should be strengthened, and the number of monitored enemy air targets should be increased,” the source said.
The A-50U airborne early warning and control aircraft is a giant flying data processing centre used to detect and track a number of aerial (fighter jets, bombers, ballistic and cruise missiles), ground (tank columns) and surface (above-water vessels) targets. It could help Russian missile defences with targeting acquisition, as well as disrupt missile targeting. A-50U is an upgraded version of Beriev A-50.
