Flying radars are needed for radar reconnaissance and guidance
Russia will increase its fleet of unique and scarce A-50 long-range radar detection and control aircraft. The largest Russian military state corporation announced this recently. The A-50 aircraft are extremely necessary for the Russian Armed Forces. Military expert, Honored Military Pilot of the Russian Federation, retired Major General Vladimir Popov, in a conversation with MK, told why this aircraft is so important and how many aircraft may appear in a year.
screenshot from video
Aircraft manufacturers reported encouraging news: they will restore the A-50 fleet, because our army needs this aircraft, as well as has export potential.
In turn, the admin of the popular aviation Telegram channel “Fighterbomber”, commenting on the news, noted that Russia will have new models of long-range radar detection and control aircraft: “At an emergency pace, we will now restore the entire iron series of the A-50, and accelerate the adoption into service with the A-100. Well, and of course, to make new A-50s, to begin with, most likely, from the existing Il-76 fleet.”
The new generation A-100 long-range radar patrol aircraft should replace the A-50 aircraft being developed 70-80s.
Honored military pilot Vladimir Popov, in a conversation with MK, explained the importance of a long-range radar patrol aircraft. According to him, this is a dual-use vehicle that is actively used not only during armed conflicts, but also in peacetime.
“This is, first of all, a system for managing and monitoring the use of the airspace of any state, not only in wartime, but also in peacetime,” says the general. — During combat operations, these aircraft turn into flying command posts or radar stations. Perhaps this is the only opportunity to control aviation and troops. To put it simply, the A-50 and A-100 aircraft are the eyes and ears of aviation systems, air defense systems, air traffic control systems and airspace use.
Popov noted that the Taganrog Beriev Aviation Plant, which assembled, tested and produced these aircraft, today has little production potential.
— They can actually produce two or three aircraft there per year. Taking this into account, after a political decision is made on the accelerated construction of air command posts, the first new aircraft will appear only in a year or two.
According to Popov, at the same time, we have a sufficient number of platforms for «flying radar». These are Il-76 military transport aircraft. However, a lot of effort, expense and time can be spent on installing a unique filling for the A-50 — this is a mushroom-shaped antenna on the fuselage, as well as other equipment.
— These are locators, radar equipment, communications equipment. In addition, we must not forget that this all goes through encoding and decoding of signals, which is done on a new basis.
General Popov did not rule out that a decision will be made to develop even such models as the A-50U or even A-100. Perhaps now we will focus only on the standard A-50 model in order to produce as many of the necessary aircraft as possible.
“We have always had few such aircraft, they were always in short supply,” says General Popov. “But it’s one thing when there are not enough such aircraft in peacetime, another thing when there are hostilities and when every year relations with the West are getting worse and worse. Therefore, it is vital for us to monitor our boundaries. Moreover, even if the SVO ends tomorrow, such aircraft will not lose their relevance. We will need them in the future in any case. There is no need to be afraid of high costs, time and the fact that we can occupy production facilities with the production of this type of aircraft. This will all pay off with interest.