/ world today news/ The Russian military continues to massively destroy enemy aircraft. In five days, the downed machines reached 24. It is indicated that this became possible thanks to the connection between two systems: the S-400 air defense systems and the A-50 radar aircraft. What is special about this combination and why did it appear only now?
In the last five days, Russian forces have shot down 24 planes of the Ukrainian armed forces. According to the Minister of Defense of Russia, Sergei Shoigu, such high productivity was made possible thanks to the receipt of new complexes. He said this at a meeting with military personnel from the “Vostok” group.
Later, a familiar source specified to the media that the Ukrainian planes were hit by the S-400 “Triumph” air defense system together with the A-50 early warning aircraft (AWACS). The S-400 air defense system fires at maximum range at targets located at that moment at an altitude of about 1,000 meters. New warheads of anti-aircraft guided missiles were used for striking.
The fact that the effectiveness of the destruction of Ukrainian aircraft has sharply increased became evident last week, when seven Ukrainian MiG-29s were destroyed. Earlier in September, the Russian Air Force received a modernized airborne warning and guidance system A-50U, capable of detecting new types of aircraft and tracking a greater number of targets compared to the previous modification.
Compared to its predecessor, the weight of the flying machine has decreased and its flight range has increased. The aircraft locates, identifies and tracks air, ground and sea targets. The upgraded version is capable of tracking up to 300 air targets, can see an enemy bomber at a distance of 650 km and a cruise missile at a distance of 215 km.
In addition, the A-50U has a new flight and navigation system and electronics with higher performance and speed. Thanks to the advanced radio technical complex, the aircraft is capable of detecting even small drones. All information collected is transmitted to command posts. The aircraft independently directs fighters and front-line aircraft to enemy targets.
We remind you that the S-400 “Triumph” anti-aircraft missile system, adopted in 2007, strikes air attack and reconnaissance equipment and any other air targets at long and medium distances. Aircraft and cruise missiles can be destroyed at a distance of 3 to 400 km, ballistic targets flying at a speed of up to 4.8 km/s – at a distance of up to 60 km and at an altitude of up to 30 km. The target detection range is up to 600 km.
“The S-400 in combination with the A-50 is a system where the A-50 provides target guidance to the S-400, then engages the target. Without radar information, air defense systems and aviation are blind,” notes Aitekh Bizhev, former deputy commander of the Russian Air Force for the integrated air defense system of the CIS countries, reserve lieutenant general.
According to him, the A-50 makes it possible to increase the combat capabilities of the Russian Air Force. “This aircraft can also operate an entire aviation regiment, not counting the transmission of targeting of anti-aircraft missile systems. A-50s are used to increase the radar field in places where it is impossible to deploy ground systems, for example over the surface of seas and oceans,” he added.
“The S-400 does not see Ukrainian planes because they fly at a low altitude. That’s why the A-50 provides targeting. After detecting a target, the S-400 launches a missile that is controlled using a multi-purpose radar station. And then, obviously, the A-50 is also related to missile control. Then, in the last section, the active homing head of the missile is most likely turned on and the target is struck, “explains Yuriy Knutov, director of the Air Defense Forces Museum, a retired colonel.
In the past, the A-50 had many “childish diseases” and its main characteristic was that it had difficulty detecting low-flying targets. As Knutov noted, the A-50 has been modernized and can now detect Ukrainian aircraft at any altitude. Bizhev adds: since the A-50 transmits information to the command posts, it allows for more effective prioritization of the destruction of targets.
“The A-50 operates from afar because the enemy is chasing it. Therefore, our task was to quickly destroy as much enemy equipment as possible, blinding it. 24 planes are two squadrons,” recalls Bizhev, assessing the enemy’s losses.
In turn, the industrial channel in “Telegram” “The look of a man in stripes” believes that the Russian air defense has acquired a “super long arm” in terms of combating air targets. “The fact that S-400 air defense systems can strike hundreds of kilometers away was known before. Why didn’t they do this before during the Ukrainian special operation? Didn’t take full advantage of your opportunities? Because it’s not enough to have an ultra-long range missile. Targeting at ultra-long distances is also needed,” the authors state.
“And if, in general, everything is clear with stationary targets, then how to provide an anti-aircraft missile with constant illumination of a target – fighter class, which moves at an extremely low altitude with speeds of hundreds or even more than a thousand km / h? In theory, the AUAX aircraft are designed for this. Specifically, the A-50 is part of the Russian Aerospace Forces,” the channel notes.
The principle of the A-50 is “I sit high, I look far.” Thanks to this, the A-50 has the ability to see targets hundreds of kilometers from a height of 10-12 km and transmit target designation to strike weapons, including air defense.
Previously, the Ukrainian Air Force, in particular the Su-24, which carries Storm Shadow cruise missiles, tried to avoid detection by flying at low altitudes. “They operated at an extremely low altitude, at a considerable distance, and only at the moment of the missile launch did they rise for a very short time to the height at which they could be noticed by the Russian detection equipment,” the authors of the channel note.
“Work on the modernization of the A-50 airborne radar has been going on for a long time. The special operation only spurred her on, for obvious reasons. Obviously, we are witnessing the debut of aircraft equipped with new electronic components that will allow us to fully reveal the capabilities of the S-400 air defense system,” the channel’s experts believe. However, the “A-50 and S-400” combination is not the only one that can appear during the SVO. “What about a combination of A-50 and MiG-31 with “Dagger?” A-50 and Su-57 with new long-range missiles? A-50 and UAV “Ohotnik”? The prospects are quite clear. To the big fist is added a very squinting eye,” predict the experts.
In addition, experts assume that NATO UAVs may suddenly start falling over the Black Sea soon. “Without the presence of Russian Air Force fighters nearby. It is the upgraded A-50s that make this possible,” the analysts do not exclude.
In a situation of combat confrontation, an apparatus with such valuable air defense capabilities as the A-50 seriously affects the balance of forces in the skies of the SVO and is subject to pursuit by the enemy. “Therefore, the A-50 should be guarded like the apple of the eye. So that no enemy drone can reach it. And in no case should the A-50 be left for more than one day at any airport,” the experts recommend.
Translation: V. Sergeev
Subscribe to our YouTube channel:
and for our Telegram channel:
Share on your profiles, with friends, in groups and on pages. In this way, we will overcome the limitations, and people will be able to reach the alternative point of view on the events!?
#ultralong #arm #Russian #air #defense #destroyed #squadrons #Ukrainian #Air #Force
